How to Improve Your Sentences when Writing | Ask a Bestselling Writer 

"Subtract, subtract, subtract." What a minimalist.

I am the Wilson who posed this question one year ago in the How to Write Better course general forum. It was my very first post upon enrolling. Reviewing the blog post I was writing, which prompted the question, I not only agree with JFMs assessment of the one sentence, but the whole thing is just wordy. Hearing my question answered in this podcast was a nice surprise, and I'm looking forward to re-writing the post with this gift of a great first line (plus the vast improvement I've made as a writer since then). Thanks, Joshua! And yes, the course was worth every penny, and then some.

What an amazing thing words are and how putting them in just the right way can make them into wisdom.

" its not by adding more, its by removing that with the subtractions." is all about editing, less is more.

I am so glad to find your videos. My story is about how my husband and I are related, and trying to put it on paper is one of the most challenging things I've ever done. Oh, we are related, but not by blood. Your videos are a great inspiration. Thank you

Interesting. Btw, my mother always said that the word, "got" was the laziest verb in the English language. I Never use that word in conversation and can be seen pausing to recreate my words while eliminating that word. Good advice, I think.

The red corvette as an example of midlife crisis. Just described my ex with his crisis at that age 😅. Can not be better example that this 👌💯

Great reworked sentence! I love it.

I learned something. Thanks

Thanks Joshua! This advice helps my songwriting.

great video! learned a lot

Solid advice. Thank you for sharing this.

Really good advice, thank you for sharing! I will be working through the videos.

I tend to be better at telling than showing; this is a great example of turning a tell into a show. Many thanks!

thank you for making youtube awesome

Instead of receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature, I studied forty videos about elegant sentences.

Thoughts of parenthood, a red convertible and travel were dumped as I faced a certain mid life crisis with weary eyes and weak knees.

Thank you for sharing such videos, easy to undertsand

Thanks for sharing!

Good advice - easy to understand!

Sir how to improve written style

Sgoinneil!

Promo-SM 😬

But did parenthood cause the delay or even cancellation of a midlife crises? The improved versions jump to conclusions. An outside observer might do that. The first person narrator is gingerly exploring a range of possibilities. With uncertainty.

How could that sentence NOT be improved?

Instead of buying a red corvette, I conceived a child at age 40, implies the child was 40 when it was conceived. Might it be better to say, Instead of buying a red corvette, at age 40 I conceived a child?