The PET Sentence Journal as a Writing Tool

I’m a big proponent of keeping a “PET Sentence Journal,” a simple practice you can do as a reader to become a better writer.
 
PET stands for: Persuasive, Emotive, True. 

All you have to do is jot down published sentences that move you.
 
You might already underline in books or highlight in Kindle, but I suggest going a step further to write out sentences you admire in a dedicated journal/document.
 
I’ll explain how this practice helps deepen your craft with a couple of PET Sentences I pulled from All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker.
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What makes "good" writing?

This post breaks down three adages about “good” writing, and provides an exercise to supercharge your writing, at any phase!
 
1. Good writing is focused writing.
 
This universal truth goes beyond personal preferences of genre, voice, tone, and style.
 
Focused sentences control story time and remain in a character’s point of view. Control of story time includes remaining “in scene,” as well as artfully transitioning in and out of scene.
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