Write Things: On the Power of Paragraphs

Hello {{ first_name }},

This is one of the quickest and most powerful ways to level up your writing. It’s going to give you a ton of insight into your style, and when you put it into play, your reader is going to love you for it.

Ready for it?

Use paragraphs.

I know. Mechanics. Really sexy topic, Trev.

As always, let me explain.

So we’re all on the same page, let’s cover a couple of points.

1. As a caveat: mechanics and punctuation rules are purposefully subverted, ignored, and outright broken all the time. Most of the time it’s purposeful—like any errors you find in my newsletters 😅.
2. Technically, we start a new paragraph when we shift:

• Time or place (setting)
• Topic or focus (what we’re discussing)
• Mood, tone, or perspective (how we’re discussing or feeling about it)
• Speakers (dialogue)
• For dramatic effect (purely for impact)
  

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about how using paragraphs intentionally can dramatically improve your understanding of your writing—and your readers’ experience.

When we write or revise using paragraphs traditionally, we start to see two things very clearly:

1. Our level of development
   2. The pace of our story

After you’ve drafted or revised something, take a step back and look at the shape of your paragraphs. If the bulk of your piece is made up of one-sentence paragraphs, odds are you’re moving very quickly through your story. And while there’s a time and place for increasing pace, this is often a sign of underdevelopment. The writing usually leans heavily on telling—again, which has its place—but while your reader may understand the plot, they’re likely not deeply engaged with the moment. There’s no room to get into it.

On the other hand, if your piece is comprised of mostly large paragraphs, the pace is probably slow—meaning the plot isn’t moving forward very quickly. As a result, there’s a good chance there’s little tension or suspense. Dig a little deeper and you’ll usually find a lot of over-explaining. The writer shows something, then tells us what it means.

For example: “He grimaced and shook his head. He was too angry to answer.”

This is a classic case of showing (“He grimaced and shook his head”) and then immediately telling the reader what the details mean (“He was too angry to answer”).
In most cases, you only need one or the other.

So how can you apply this in your current writing?

Consider your intentions.

If you’re writing a fast-paced, tension-filled scene—one that’s driven by action and dialogue—you don’t want large paragraphs. That’s usually a sign you’re pulling the reader out of the moment and into reflection, backstory, or explanation. Anything but the action itself.

Revise to keep the momentum. Keep your showing details quick and loaded, so your reader can infer what you want them to infer. Or just tell us the essential information so we can stay locked into what might happen next.

If you’re writing a slower moment—often where a conflict is first appearing or just after a big turning point—I expect to see larger paragraphs. These are the places where you let the narrator fill in gaps, explore a character’s backstory, or create space for reflection. Let us watch a character fall apart or piece themselves back together. If these moments are filled with one-sentence paragraphs, you’re likely rushing through the emotional heart of the story.

Here’s the wild part:

This might be the single most powerful craft tip I could give a writer.

It’s fast. It’s clear. And it gives you immediate insight into the shape, pace, and depth of your work.

Try it today. It’s revealing and satisfying.
Your readers—and your editor—will thank you for it.

If you’re looking for some guidance, support, and motivation for your writing, I’m welcoming writers of all levels to enter to win a free seat in my next writing groups.

If you’re interested, just fill out this short form.
This giveaway closes tomorrow night at midnight (Friday, Nov 14th).

As a bonus, send the link to anyone you know who might want to attend. If anyone you refer gets selected to join the group, you’ll win too.

There’s no limit to how many people you refer—just a limit on how long the giveaway is open 😊.
Winners will be contacted this weekend.

Want to hear some well-paced stories?
 

Fifteen members of the Write Things Community shared raw, authentic stories—personal and fictional alike.
 

None of them went through an editor, but every single one was brave, original, and deeply human.

🎧 Listen to Episode 3 of the Write Things Podcast here and feel inspired to write your own.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with a friend. The more writers we get writing, the more wonderful stories we’ll have in the world.

Until next time, I wish you and your stories all the best,
Trevor Martens
Founder, I Help You Write Things