This year I am offering three workshops on grammar and style. Last year's workshop filled to capacity and the participants asked for more information and examples. I've expanded the one workshop into three levels: beginning, intermediate and advanced, so there's something for everyone who hates grammar, but loves to write. Check out Savvy Authors for the registration link for all three workshops, or search the workshop list for Want Style? Get Grammar!

Meanwhile here's a simple exercise to pump up your sensual style. You can use the beginning of a sentence to make a strong impact on the reader.

1. Start with the SUBJECT, but try varying from a simple subject to using noun phrases. Take ordinary examples like this:

The man jammed an oar into the sand to hold the boat steady.
She looked forward to another delightful dinner with him.

And make them sensual subjects like these:

His huge bed was a whole world unto itself.
Her right ankle twitched at the thought of his touch.
Ripples of quilted down flowed in waves over the silk sheets.
Honeysuckle scented candles burned in sconces set into the wall.

2. Start with a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (off, on, up, over… plus an object). Prepositional phrases usually describe time or place, and they can be concrete as well as more abstract.

Take ordinary ones like these:

After dinner she went directly to his room.
At two am she awoke to find him missing from her bed.
Across the street he stood with his hands on his hips, staring.
From the very beginning, the treasures of his lovemaking were limitless.

And turn them into proposition prepositions:

Between soft whispers of love, he brushed his lips across her cheek.
On the palm of her outstretched hand he placed a single red rose.
After missing his embraces for far too long, she fell against him, safe in his arms.
Beneath his haunting reserve, he was a fiery and passionate lover.

Exercise Challenge: Write a sentence beginning with either a sensuous subject or a propositional preposition phrase and share it in a comment, and then click the following link to friend my Facebook author page. I'm giving away 2 lovely writing craft books for one lucky winner. Writing from the Heart by Leslea Newman and Immediate Fiction: A Complete Writing Course by Jerry Cleaver. To enter the contest, leave a comment with at least one example sentence and friend my Facebook author page. Contest ends Monday, January 17th or as soon as I get 10 new friends on Facebook, whichever comes first. Good luck!