Structure

Paragraphing in stories: when to start a new one

2 min read · Muzayrah Writer's Toolkit

A page with no paragraph breaks is exhausting to read. Paragraphs give readers a moment to breathe and signal that something has changed.

The TiPToP rule

Start a new paragraph when there is a change of:

Time: “The next morning…”
Place: “Back at the house…”
Topic: a new idea or focus.
Person: a new character speaks or becomes the focus.

Dialogue always gets new lines

Every new speaker starts a new paragraph, even if they say one word.

Use a one-line paragraph for impact

After a long paragraph, a single short line stands out.

Like this.

Use it for shocks, reveals and turning points, but not too often.

Try it: take a page of your writing and mark every point where Time, Place, Topic or Person changes. Did you start a new paragraph each time?

Keep readingHow to write a first line that hooks →How to end a story so it stays with the reader →Pacing: when to speed up and when to slow down →How to turn a story topic into a winning idea →All 52 writing lessons →

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