How to Make Every Sentence Earn Its Place
Write Sentences That Snap
VijayWrites #155
Welcome to VijayWrites—where you’ll find inspiration, tips, and ideas to help you write better, master the art of copywriting, and make a career out of your words.
Let’s start with a brutal truth:
Most sentences in most drafts don’t need to be there.
They sound fine. They don’t hurt the piece. But they don’t help either.
They just… fill space.
And that’s the problem.
Every sentence you keep is a sentence your reader has to get through. If it’s not pulling its weight, it’s pulling them out of the piece.
This is especially true for writers who know how to write well.
The better your flow, the easier it is to accidentally slip into cruise control—stringing together smooth but forgettable lines.
Let’s fix that.
The Invisible Sentence Problem
You write a paragraph. It reads well.
But one sentence is just… there.
Not wrong. Not bad. Just empty.
“Writing is an important skill for anyone who wants to communicate effectively.”
Is it true? Yes.
Is it useful? No.
This kind of sentence softens your writing. It eats space. It delays clarity.
You don’t need 500 words.
You need five sentences that matter.
So, how do you make every sentence count?
Here’s a 3-part system you can run through when editing your draft.
1. Does this sentence move the idea forward—or repeat it?
Writers love to circle an idea.
Say it. Say it again. Then clarify what they just said.
Cut it.
If two sentences say the same thing, keep the stronger one.
“You don’t need to explain the same point twice. It slows the reader down.”
↓
“Explaining the same point twice slows the reader down.”
Tighter. Cleaner. More direct.
2. Is it setting something up—or just stating the obvious?
Some sentences are written to “warm up” the reader before the real insight.
They’re there out of habit, not necessity.
“In today’s fast-paced world, writing well has become more important than ever.”
We’ve all written that line.
But it doesn’t set anything up. It just stalls the good part.
Delete it. Start where the meaning starts.
3. Is it clear, sharp, and complete on its own?
A strong sentence stands tall.
You can lift it from the post and it still delivers something valuable.
Test this:
If you read that one line on Twitter, would it stop you?
If not—rewrite it.
A great sentence doesn’t blend in.
It snaps into place.
The ruthless edit is the real writing
The first draft is for saying what you want to say.
The second is for making sure every line helps you say it better.
When you go back to edit, ask:
Is this line adding meaning or momentum?
Could I delete it and lose nothing?
Can I say this in fewer, better words?
Try this today
Take a piece of writing you’ve already published.
Highlight the 3 strongest sentences.
Now look at the rest.
Do they earn their place?
If not—cut. Sharpen. Rebuild.
Make your writing so lean it leaves nothing extra behind.
That’s how you get read.
That’s how you get remembered.