How To Make Sentences Flow

You lot craft your story, scene by scene and sentence by judgement, stringing ane word to the next with loving care. Only what if, when your reader picks it up, the whole thing falls apart?

Pivot

Y'all don't want that happening. Continuity is the thread that stitches your story into a coherent package, property information technology together and making it a pleasure to read. And then how do you brand your writing menstruation?

Writing Flow: It'southward All About the Transitions

As writers, we spend a lot of time trying to go our words just correct. Nosotros acquire how to put together effective sentences and arrange them in paragraphs. We learn how to construct a scene with all the necessary elements to hold a reader's attending.

We learn how to create each slice of the story, but very little consideration goes toward the points of transition between those pieces. And that's where lies the greatest run a risk of your reader putting downwards the volume and walking away.

In Elizabeth George'due south wonderful book Write Abroad, there'southward a chapter titled, "Knowledge is Power, Technique is Celebrity." Here's a bit of wisdom I culled from that chapter:

"Once you have the hang of writing paragraphs that are cohesive, you lot're gear up to remember about how to link them together then as to create a seamless narrative. This is a large office of what will propel a reader through your story, and you affect this propulsion past bridging together paragraphs, scenes, events, or actions. Bridging through the creation of transitions maintains the narrative's smooth flow."

She and then presents a series of paragraphs from Deception on His Mind, and shows how they link together from the last sentence of i paragraph to the first judgement of the side by side, making the writing catamenia smoothly. She adds, "When you write with an awareness of bridges and transitions, y'all create an feel for the reader that is seductive and mysterious."

A Look at the Micro

Let'south starting time by examining some ways to transition from sentence to sentence or paragraph to paragraph. In the Elizabeth George example I mentioned higher up, she goes on to explain that the ending judgement of one paragraph is either straight related to the kickoff sentence of the adjacent paragraph, or acts as a prompt.

For example, if you cease a paragraph like this: "Mary wasn't certain how she felt most Brian's leaving." So information technology's natural to begin the next paragraph past explaining Mary's ambivalence: "On the one hand, she would miss him terribly. On the other manus…"

This example is rather obvious, but it makes the point. Lead the reader forth a logical sequence of narrative idea, and they'll happily go with the flow. It sounds like a no-brainer, but information technology'due south surprising how often writers lose the thread without realizing information technology.

V Techniques for Stitching Together the Small Pieces

Howexactly do you transition smoothly from one sentence to the next? From one paragraph, ane idea, even one word to the adjacent?

Attempt these v techniques to shine out your story and create cute writing flow in every line.

1. Repetition/Overlap

This technique is exactly what it sounds like: repeat the aforementioned idea at the end of one section and the beginning of the next.

Here'south an example in a paragraph:

[A long paragraph, ending with . . .] In the morning, things would look brighter.

But morning brought a sullen tempest that matched Kelsey's depression.

And hither'due south an example in dialogue:

"You're just looking for someone to take the blame."

"I'1000 looking for someone who deserves the blame."

ii. Matching sentence structure

This works well for connecting short, snappy pieces at the end of a longer slice.

Here's an example in a paragraph:

She'd win. He knew it.

She always did.

Annotation how I gave that last judgement an extra punch by giving it its ain paragraph.

And hither's an instance in dialogue:

"Go out."

"You beginning."

"Yous wish."

3. Plough it around

Finish a sentence or paragraph with 1 side of the coin, so flip it over to begin the next.

Hither's an example:

[A paragraph ending with this sentence . . .] The difficulty arose because Tara didn't empathise what drew her to Steve.

With Mark, the allure had been all too apparent.

And another case:

Peggy would notice some other job. She'd contact the bureau, submit her resume, and—

[A new paragraph detailing the explanation might begin hither.] And miss every moment of this.

4. Stimulus and response

Again, this stimulus and response, also known equally cause and effect, business sounds equally if it should go without proverb. Only it'due south a problem spot for a lot of writers and a powerful tool to have in your toolbox, then give it a niggling attention.

Here'south an example:

Mike tossed the automobile keys to Sarah. [stimulus] She reached out a mitt to snag them, [response] but they bounced off her forearm and hitting the pavement, skittering into the gutter.

5. Sequel pattern

In his book Scene & Structure, Jack Thou. Bickham introduces a dandy style to create the thread of continuity nosotros've been discussing. He calls information technology "Scene and Sequel." It'southward a lot more complex than I can get into here, but I wanted to indicate out the blueprint he uses for his sequels: Emotion—thought—decision—activeness.

Later on an action scene, the character volition have an emotional response, which will pb to thoughts about the activeness and response, which volition leave her with a decision to be made. That decision will lead to another activeness, and then it begins again.

Big Picture show Mechanics

We've looked at some techniques for achieving continuity and writing flow in the small spaces of your story. Let's touch on on some things you can do to create a sense of unity throughout your entire story.

one. Consistent details

By this, I mean using details that weave a consequent thread throughout the story, especially in terms of tone and atmosphere.

Think about the imagery and language yous're using and stay true to the overall picture you want to portray. Similar an architect who designs his buildings to fit the environment and plans the landscaping to adapt the edifice so that a harmonious whole is created.

2. Unify around theme

In my commodity on immersing your reader in the setting of your story, I talked about using a central element or symbol to bind the moving pieces of your story into a coherent whole.

I used the example of a river. Establish the importance of the river early on. Y'all don't accept to land this—only describe information technology in significant detail, and your reader will sense its substance.

Then refer back to the river at certain points and that river becomes the thematic ribbon running through your story.

3. Character traits or features

This is like to #2, just centers on the attributes of your characters. For case, you might take a character who walks with a cane and that cane comes into play, symbolically and physically, throughout the story.

4. Setup and payoff

Keeping upward a running sequence of setups and payoffs creates continuity, propelling your reader forward.

Little efforts that pay off big

Past learning how to reach continuity in your writing, you magnify your efforts into something magnificent. This is the blazon of synergy Aristotle had in listen when he coined the phrase: "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

Continuity is a powerful thing.

Are you lot aware of continuity and writing menstruation when you read a volume? Tell united states of america about it in the comments.

PRACTICE

You probably already use many of these methods without even thinking about it. But as my mentor e'er tells me, existence aware of a technique gives your subconscious permission to use it.

So, let's focus on awareness and write a scene of at least vi paragraphs woven together with a thread of continuity. Remember to use at to the lowest degree two or iii of the techniques discussed in the article to increment your awareness of them.

If you'd like to use a prompt, choose 1 of these:

Ii strangers encounter at a birthday party.

Chad goes to bed in the year 2020, and wakes up in 1849.

Barnaby'due south hotel is going under and he has to let the staff get.

Write for fifteen minutes. When you're finished, post your work in the comments, and be certain to provide feedback for your fellow writers!

Joslyn Chase

Any mean solar day where she can send readers to the edge of their seats, prickling with suspense and chewing their fingernails to the nub, is a good 24-hour interval for Joslyn. Pick up her latest thriller, Steadman'due south Bullheaded, an explosive read that will keep you turning pages to the cease. No Remainder: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense, Joslyn's latest collection of short suspense, is available for free at joslynchase.com.