Martin Amis: How to write a great sentence [CC]

Author Martin Amis describes how to construct a great sentence in the age of Twitter.

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[redred]

RIP Mr Amis - London Fields was such a classic. Thank you 😇

[robertbaker]

"The future is getting smaller and the past is getting bigger."

[josefcb]

My English teacher recommended to me his book "Time's arrow". Back then, I was able to tell if a sentence written in Spanish was elegant. But reading Time's arrow I felt incredibly good when I found that same elegance. Here's an example that I haven't forgotten after 7 years: "the stars are the routemap of a nightmare. Don't join the points"❤

[scotttully]

One of Amis’ characters goes to an Indian restaurant and challenges the cooks to prepare a meal so hot he couldn’t eat it. When the plate arrives, he can see the curious cooks watching him through the little round kitchen window.

“A bit mild, ” he said, when he could finally speak again.

I still remember phrases like this twenty years later. RIP Sir Martin.

[stevecox]

I am currently re-reading his brilliant masterpiece, 'London Fields', which is hilarious and ghastly in equal measure. It is one of the few books that has made me laugh out loud on a train.

[michaelwalker]

He is an elegant stylist of the language. He makes good points of advice.

[johnruggiero]

Perhaps, this is why I co some new papers. Journalists have limited space to get the point across. They can set the stage, but not describe every chair. I admire that quality. With journalists it’s about something relevant too. Which keeps my simple brain in tune

[steves]

In art, learn the rules, understand the rules, and then break them.

[vanhouten]

He looks like 'Agent Smith' in the Matrix movies.

[rexmundi]

Agree about suffixes but not prefixes. Two prefixes per sentence sounds fine to me: conform, confound etc - depending of course on whether what you write is intelligent and interesting. No point writing a perfect sentence if it's a banal thought.

[Michaelhendersonnovelist]

I have to disagree with his notion that a sentence cannot contain two words with the same prefix or suffix. He violates that rule all the time because it's necessary to do so. In fact, it can be used to great effect. On the other hand, it does give the writer something to think about. But it should not be mechanically or slavishly followed.

[petergivenbless]

To me, a well written book begs to be read aloud. My biggest problem, when writing, is how to know when a sentence should end!

[MartianTom]

Just right. Exactly how I approach my own work. You don't need to write it down. It's instinctive.

[whothennow]

His rule about not repeating things is Glad none of the great writers followed this rule.

[Broatch]

poetry as prose....consistently malevolent...hilariously funny....endlessly educational

[nebovas]

He almost quoted Flober, his idea of a good sentence is not his at all.

[mctv]

Is he joking? Hed sit down with a bottle of wine and read his own book for 8 hours?

[ivankacat]

Living in the states I forgot he existed until he died. No one reads anything here. Not even road signs.
Best book- "The Information" by a mile.

[starcomment]

You can write a bestseller, but you'll have to spend a lot of time around a lot of wankers...

[mulemule]

Can someone please "translate" what he just said? 😵‍💫