Writing Tip: Use Variety

Example 1:

The stage was lit by a thousand lights, all resting on Adriana. The fact that she couldn't see the huge audience because of the blinding light was a mercy. The music started up, and so did the sweat on her palms. The voice instructor, Miss Helaina, peered at her from behind the curtains, nodding her head in time to the music. The tune trembled, soared, and then the time came for Adriana to sing.


Example 2:

A thousand lights lit the stage, all resting on Adriana. Finding herself staring into a bright nothing, she knew that the blinding light was a mercy. With a flourish, the music started up, and so did the sweat on her palms. Miss Helaina, smiled at her from behind the curtains, her head nodding to the beat. Adriana gulped. The tune trembled, soared, and then the time came for her to sing.

Look at the first example, and then the second. Do they sound different? Does one sound boring and repetitive? Is the other eye-catching and sounds better when you read them aloud? (You should answer yes =)

Actually, the two paragraphs are pretty much the same, except for one thing that may seem to be small. In Example 1, all of the sentences start with 'the'. 'The stage', 'The fact', 'The music'...if you read it aloud, you'll find that it doesn't have good flow.

Look at the second example now. 'A thousand lights', 'Finding herself', 'With a flourish'. These keep your reader interested.

I think that variety is highly important for good writing. It makes your writing easier to read, and it adds 'pizazz'. Also notice that, in Example 2, two rather long sentences are sandwiching a two-word one. This adds flow as well.

Izori

P.S. On a side note, I see that, on the poll, not many people like this current background (or at least at the time I wrote this, they didn't--this is scheduled). Does anyone have suggestions for my background? I actually am getting kind of attached to the current one, so make 'em good!