Structure of a paragraph is of prime importance to any writer, whether you write fiction or non-fiction, informal blog posts, formal reports or business letters. All of these forms of writing require use of paragraphs. A solid block of text makes little sense and is almost impossible to read.

Paragraphs are not simply there to break up the text. Each paragraph is there to support what what is being told. There has to be an opening paragraph and a closing paragraph. However short the piece of writing, it will need more than one paragraph to lead the reader through, from start to finish.

The opening paragraph is the most important part of any article or report. It should introduce what is to follow, and must be compelling. Fiction writing requires different skills from article writing, but in both cases the opening must gives a clue to what follows, and lead into the next paragraph. The first sentence of each paragraph should act as a subheading, introducing the next point, and be followed by an explanation, ending with a consequence or alternative outcome.

The start of each new paragraph should make clear where it is leading. Readers don't want to find out half way through a paragraph what it is about, although you can end on a contradictory note that leads on to a different point of view in the next paragraph. Key words and phrases stand out more when placed at the start of a paragraph.

A paragraph can be of any length, from a single sentence to a complete page. It should stick to the point and never wander off into another aspect or break away from the immediate action in a novel. If you are writing dialogue, or quoting words written or spoken by someone else, do try to indicate near the start who is speaking or being quoted, rather than leave the reader wondering whose words they are, until they reach the end of the paragraph.

If any point requires a long and complex analysis, or you are writing an extensive piece of narration, the text can be broken into shorter paragraphs to allow for easier reading. It is particularly important to do this when publishing online. Internet users generally skim quickly through a web page, and few people read solid blocks of text on the screen.

In an informational article, business communication or fact sheet, paragraphs can be numbered, or set out as individual points under subheadings. If you do this, you generally need to include an introduction and a closing paragraph, rather than start off with a subheading or a number.

By the time you reach the closing paragraph you should have followed a logical sequence of events, or set out your facts, in the preceding paragraphs. In an article or report, the closing paragraph should be a summary, or a conclusion drawn from what has been stated. In fiction, there can be a number of creative ways to close a chapter, and a novel can end with an unexpected statement or an intriguing thought.

The structure of paragraphs should not be thought of as a hindrance to writing. You can always improve your use of paragraphs when editing what you have written freely in your first draft. Always consider your readers and help them to follow what you are trying to get across in your writing, by giving your paragraphs structure and purpose.

Learn more about this author, Ruth Belena.
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