The Draft
How to Write a Sentence
Be specific. Be human. Make every word count.
Welcome to The Draft, an advice column about writing and life from Eileen Pollack, former director of the University of Michigan MFA Program. We’re here to answer your questions about storycraft, writing, and telling the truth in words.
Have a question? Share it with us.
Dear Draft,
I have a problem overwriting predominantly. That not only do I add unnecessary words, but my details are nearly always unwanted, misplaced, or confusing. Unfortunately I wasn’t taught English properly (ever). So where can I learn how to write in a manner that actually communicates my intended messages?
Signed,
Absent the Day They Taught Good Writing
Dear Absent,
No, you weren’t absent. Unless you attended parochial school, your teachers probably never taught anyone the rules of grammar. Be grateful: you would have died of boredom. And if your teacher had marked up your essays with a red pen, chiding you for every error, you would have simmered with resentment and stopped writing unless required.
Many teachers do make an effort to teach “good writing,” but their lessons are geared toward helping students produce a coherent essay…
