How to Improve Your Sentences: Lessons from Joshua Fields Millburn
Writing is both an art and a craft, and mastering it requires deliberate effort. In a recent video titled "How to Improve Your Sentences When Writing", New York Times bestselling author Joshua Fields Millburn shares practical advice on refining sentences by understanding the balance between showing and telling. This blog post explores the key takeaways from his insights and how they can transform your writing.
The Question: Improving a Sentence
The video begins with a question from a viewer, Wilson, who asks how to improve the sentence:
"As I ponder this thought, it has occurred to me that becoming a parent late in life may have spared me from the trope of events known as midlife crisis."
Millburn praises the effort but critiques the sentence for being overly verbose and "try-hard." He emphasizes that good writing often involves subtraction—removing unnecessary words to make the message more concise and impactful.
Telling vs. Showing in Writing
Millburn explains two approaches to rewriting Wilson’s sentence: telling and showing. Both are essential tools for effective storytelling, but they serve different purposes.
Telling Example
To communicate the idea directly, Millburn suggests:
"Parenthood spared me from a midlife crisis."
This version removes redundancies like "as I ponder this thought" (which is implied) and simplifies the message. Telling works well when you need to convey information quickly and clearly.
Showing Example
For a more immersive approach, he proposes:
"Instead of buying a red Corvette, I conceived a child at age 40."
This sentence paints a vivid picture, allowing readers to infer the underlying message about midlife crises without explicitly stating it. Showing engages readers emotionally by inviting them into the story.
When to Show vs. Tell
Millburn highlights that good writing often combines both showing and telling. Here’s when to use each:
- Show when you want to immerse readers in the narrative or evoke emotion. For example, describing actions or scenes that reveal character motivations.
- Tell when you need to move the story forward or convey essential information efficiently.
Striking the right balance ensures your writing remains engaging without becoming overly dense or overly simplistic.
Key Writing Tips from the Video
-
Edit Ruthlessly
Great writing emerges not from adding more but from subtracting what’s unnecessary. Readers appreciate concise sentences that respect their intelligence. -
Challenge Your Readers
Avoid over-explaining. Trust your audience to fill in gaps and connect dots—this makes reading more rewarding. -
Know Your Purpose
Use showing for emotional depth and telling for clarity. Tailor your approach based on what you want the reader to experience or understand.
Practical Application
To put Millburn’s advice into practice:
- Start with a first draft where you freely express your thoughts.
- During editing, identify superfluous words or phrases. Ask yourself: Does this add value?
- Experiment with both showing and telling versions of key sentences. Consider which approach better serves your narrative.
Final Thoughts
Joshua Fields Millburn’s advice in this video is a reminder that writing is as much about what you leave out as what you include. By mastering the art of showing and telling—and knowing when to use each—you can craft sentences that resonate deeply with readers.
Whether you’re working on a novel, an essay, or even an email, these principles will elevate your writing. For more tips, Millburn offers additional resources like his free ebook “15 Ways to Write Better”.
Sources
[1] watch?v=WPJ1_DEp4bM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPJ1_DEp4bM
[2] How to Improve Your Sentences when Writing | Ask a Bestselling Writer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPJ1_DEp4bM
[3] 3 Ways to Write Better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5rv_bY3DMM
[4] The Writing Center – Writing Reference Materials https://kardan.edu.af/data/public/files/11%20Ways%20to%20Write%20Better.pdf
[5] Joshua Fields Millburn https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235289.Joshua_Fields_Millburn
[6] How to Make Your Writing Interesting | Ask a Bestselling Writer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr5kWGWCcMs
[7] Everything That Remains: A Memoir by the Minimalists|Paperback https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everything-that-remains-joshua-fields-millburn/1117888845
[8] Ep. 018 | Writing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfZs5lQCZMo
[9] Creating Daily Writing Habits – The Minimalists https://www.theminimalists.com/writing-habits/
[10] The Only Grammar Book You’ll Ever Need | How to Write Better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3cblIREw54
[11] Joshua Fields Millburn | Authors | Macmillan https://us.macmillan.com/author/joshuafieldsmillburn
[12] How to Learn Grammar to Improve Your Writing | Ask a Bestselling Writer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By85Ciaw6wA
[13] Books by Joshua Fields Millburn (Author of Minimalism) https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5235289.Joshua_Fields_Millburn
[14] How to Write Better https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-write-better/id1648547319
[15] How to Improve Your Sentences when Writing – The Minimalists https://www.theminimalists.com/sentences/
[16] Joshua Fields Millburn Books https://www.hachette.com.au/joshua-fields-millburn/
[17] Writing Podcast Episode 40 Meet Joshua Field Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, creators of The Minimalists | Australian Writers’ Centre https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-40/
[18] How to Research for Your Writing | Ask a Bestselling Writer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLMfmx5Gepw
[19] Essential Essays|Paperback https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/essential-essays-joshua-fields-millburn/1144630502
[20] #199 – Joshua Fields Millburn On Writing & Thinking – The Daily Talk Show https://thedailytalkshow.com/episodes/199-joshua-fields-millburn-on-writing-thinking/
[21] Joshua Fields Millburn Books | List of books by author Joshua Fields Millburn https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/joshua-fields-millburn/529390/