I can't tell you how many times I've edited a story that didn't have basic paragraphs in it. That takes up a lot of my time when editing a story. I have to read the page, find the paragraphs, then add them in. Here's the thing, as you're writing, you should naturally be able to hear where they should go in your head. Pay close attention. This post will help you figure out when to add them in. ✦ When to break a paragraph Paragraphs are about clarity and rhythm. If a chapter is

One of the most challenging things to remember is to break your chapter at the right time. But how do you know when to do that? You know it’s time to break a chapter when the reader’s experience benefits from a pause, a shift, or a reset. The trick is learning to feel those moments in your own writing. Here’s a clear, practical way to tell when to add that break. Let's talk about chapters and how to know when to create one. 📘 When to break a chapter A chapter break works bes

Em dashes have been the topic of writing and editing culture for quite some time. We've all seen them, but what are they? Em dashes are used to replace commas, semicolons, parathesis, and colons. They can be used pretty universally. They are used to set off additional information, usually added facts, examples, explanatory and descriptive phrases, and even show disruption in thoughts and interruptions in dialogue. When using em dashes, you'll want to pay attention to the freq

I decided to start this blog to help authors improve their writing and readers find their next favorite book. I will try to post as often as I can, but I won't make any promises just yet. I still prefer to teach classes and give a more personalized experience, but this is a good way to help those who are writing passively. I hope to see more of you here! Happy Reading, Abby Woodland