How do you know when to start a new paragraph when writing a story?

Question

I know where to end them if I'm writing a research paper or something, but if youre writing a story, how do you know when to end a paragraph and start a new?

Answer 1

All these answers are really great. I will tell you what I do. I tend to write very quickly and with really little regard to paragraph changes - except for when other people are speaking. Then I go back and read the chapter. As you are reading it, the chapter breaks will kind of fall into your head.
You will see where your thoughts changed or where you are focusing on a different character or a different thing. Then one click of the enter key and you have a new paragraph.

Just remember that you can have a person make a very long speech and it can be more than one paragraph. This is how you do it.


......that's what my mother told me, Rick.

"I remember when I was a little girl out at the lake ...

Your first paragraph doesn't end with a quote mark, but your next paragraph starts with one. When the person is done speaking, you use a closed quote. That way, you can technically have a character speak for several paragraphs in a row. You just close the quote when they are done.

Hope that helps. Pax- C

Answer 2

When writing a story, you normally try to keep paragraphs short. A person looking at a page is more likely to read it if there is more "white space". It makes the text look easier to read.

You would start a new paragraph whenever the scene, subject or setting changes. Or when the person performing an action changes. Helps the reader to keep track of the action.

When writing a story, it often includes dialog. Normally you begin a new paragraph when the speaker changes. That helps the reader to follow the change in speaker, and reduces the need to be constantly saying "he said". If only two characters are present, you can identify the speaker in the first paragraph, and then do several lines of dialog without having to id the speaker if they are each a separate paragraph.

There are also times when you will want to use a long paragraph to tie a series of actions together as happening rapidly in order, or to build suspense as the action moves to the final sentence of the paragraph.

There is no hard rule on when to paragraph a story, other then the divisions should be designed to help the reader understand the action.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How do you know when to start a new paragraph when writing a story?
I know where to end them if I'm writing a research paper or something, but if youre writing a story, how do you know when to end a paragraph and start a new?

Answer 4

I have always been told that when your thoughts change, you should start a new paragraph. Remember a paragraph has to have more then one sentence.
Many times a long paragraph is not a bad idea. And can help with continuity.
You must not make paragraphs just to make them. That would distract the reader.

Answer 5

New Paragraph

Answer 6

There are a few standard times to make a new paragraph:

* When you start in on a new topic
* When you skip to a new time
* When you skip to a new place
* When a new person begins to speak
* When you want to produce a dramatic effect

Answer 7

It's easy. It is just like talking to some one, once you complete one topic and start a new, you start a new paragraph.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

ok soo what i do is whenever i come 2 A "new" subject like say i was talking about brest canser and then i would do my next paragraph on how to help get rid of it or something hope that made sence good luck

Answer 10

New idea comes along... and to break up ideas that are too long.