The Basic Rules for Using Paragraphs When Writing Fiction

In this article: What paragraphs are, how they work, and how you can use them to control the structure, rhythm and flow of your story.

Paragraphs are the building blocks of fiction writing. They provide structure, clarity and rhythm, allowing readers to navigate a story with ease.

That’s the goal, anyway. But in order to achieve these things, writers must understand how paragraphs work within the context of fiction.

Whether you’re writing a 12-page story or a 500-page novel, you want to...