SECTION 4: Hit the Pause Button
As in add a space or break in your text to showcase different statements, character perspectives or to highlight the importance of a specific idea.
What I mean by this is just that. Don't run sentences together where not appropriate. I find that it gets too confusing when a variety of ideas or thoughts run together in the same paragraph. The best way to discuss this is to take a look at the two examples below.
Paragraph 1 runs together without pausing. Paragraph 2 utilizes spaces (or breaks) in the text to highlight a variety of different actions. Check it out:
Paragraph 1 (No Pause):
He stared at me blankly and I didn't know what to say. I mean, it's not like I asked for this. Who the hell was he trying to fool? I backed away slowly and a wall loomed before me. I attempted to scale it, hoping that I wouldn't find what I was looking for on the other side. Oh. My. God. I was wrong. Dead wrong. There it was. As I climbed over the wall and got to the other side, the thing I'd been dreading most stared back at me, taunting me. I can't believe he just left it here in the open like this! What a bastard! I walked forward, fully expecting to get caught, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but secretly wish I would be found.
Paragraph 2 (Pause for Effect):
He stared at me blankly and I didn't know what to say. I mean, it's not like I asked for this. Who the hell was he trying to fool?
I backed away slowly and a wall loomed before me. I attempted to scale it, hoping that I wouldn't find what I was looking for on the other side.
Oh. My. God. I was wrong. Dead wrong.
There it was.
As I climbed over the wall and got to the other side, the thing I'd been dreading most stared back at me, taunting me.
I can't believe he just left it here in the open like this! What a bastard!
I walked forward, fully expecting to get caught, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but secretly wish I would be found.
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