Jane Austen on Writing

Jane Austen gave criticism to her niece, Anna Austen.

. . . here & there, we have thought the sense might be expressed in fewer words . . .

. . . and I have scratched out Sir Tho: from walking with the other Men to the Stables &c the very day after his breaking his arm -- for though I find your Papa did walk out immediately after his arm was set, I think it can be so little usual as to appear unnatural in a book . . .

Let the Portmans go to Ireland, but as you know nothing of the Manners there, you had better not go with them. You will be in danger of giving false representations.

You describe a sweet place, but your descriptions are often more minute than will be liked. You give too many particulars of right hand & left.

Possibly Jane Austen's longest sentence.

Well, this might be her longest sentence, in Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 15:

"Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him."