|
Constructing Brief Essays
Publishing Partners are called upon to create
brief essays. Here are a few tips:
- Every essay should have a beginning, a
middle, and an ending: even if it's only 3 sentences, this rule applies.
- Start with a bang: the first
sentence should make your reader want to read the second one.
- Use a heaping helping of clear, declarative
sentences: when writing brief essays, don't be cryptic.
- Vary sentence structure: too many
sentences that sound too much alike make for difficult reading.
- Find the theme, announce it, and stick
with it: if you want to be the next James Joyce, be oblique; if you want
to your neighbors to enjoy your writing, be clear.
- Facts, facts, and more facts:
whenever possible, use lots of names, dates, and connections . . . after
all, we are documenting local history.
- Finish with a bang: Your essay
should go out with a roar, not a whimper.
|
