Fear Not the Long Sentence

In his book, Writing Tools, Roy Peter Clark encourages writers to “fear not the long sentence.” It is true, of course, that as a general rule, writers should be enslaved to concision. And long sentences are often not needed and usually create a cumbersome voice and clunky prose. “But fear not the long sentence,” says Clark. Sometimes, if done stragetically, a long sentence can be effective and even necessary. After hearing this advice a few years ago, I’ve tried to slip in at least one very long sentence toward the end of every book I write. Part of this is branding; a sort of signature that makes its way into the story like Alfred Hichcock or M. Night Shamalan. But a larger reason for my long sentence is to see if I can sum up much of what I’ve said in one sentence that artistically captures both the tone and content of my main point.

In any case, my favorite, most powerful, long sentence I’ve ever read comes in Martin Luther King’s “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail.” In context, King is defending his movement against some  supporters who agreed with his mission but thought that it was ill-timed. They encouraged King to wait. Lay off the gas. Give it time. To which King says:


Then comes King’s 310 word journey-sentence that’s so well-crafted and so rhetorically powerful that’s worth of every word.


King goes on to conclude:


So “fear not the long sentence!” But its effect is strengthened by using it sparingly.