Knowing when to put in a paragraph break is something most writers would say is intuitive. But what about those pesky times that it just… isn’t? It’s good to have a few fast and hard rules for paragraphs under your belt as well as some natural and creative ways to think about them while writing.

Basic Principle Roundup

Before we begin to delve into more nuanced approaches, let’s start with a few basic concepts for when you should add a paragraph break:

• Stick to one idea per paragraph. More on this to come.
  

• Most Paragraphs are at least two sentences long. Of course, the occasional paragraph can be one sentence or even as short as a single word, but this is largely for dramatic effect. Sticking to at least two sentences should be the goal 99 percent of the time with the exception of dialogue.
  

• Aim for at least one paragraph break per page. Again, there are some exceptions to this, but having such a dense page with little whitespace to give readers a moment to pause is intimidating. Compact books have 250 words per page. So, try to have a break at least that often when possible.

Break When the Subject Shifts

Probably the most commonly known principle is that you should stick to idea per paragraph. Unfortunately, it is also the most difficult to nail down exactly what that means. If you have 500 words talking about a flashback that relates back to a subject mentioned early in the paragraph, then the length principle will take care of it. But what about shorter asides? If it will be at least two sentences long, it’s likely worth putting in its own paragraph. A paragraph break does not suggest to a reader that the larger concept we’re considering is complete, but perhaps this particular faction of it is. Like we learned as children of the five-paragraph essay. Each paragraph has its own point to make, but all five are contributing to one whole argument.

Breaks During Dialogue

I am often a fan of authors who bend the rules in a new and interesting way, but dialogue mechanics are some of the most important rules to follow because they promote clarity for readers. Adding a paragraph break each time the speaker changes is key, and any action that happens between should also get its own paragraph if it is either being performed by another character or takes up two sentences to describe. Keeping kosher on these concepts can allow you more interesting means of timing your dialogue beats and give you the option of skipping dialogue tags on occasion without confusing readers.

Break to Create Contrast

One creative use of a paragraph break is to create contrast in a moment. Even though you may still be addressing the same subject from another angle, you can create a more poignant experience for the reader by adding a paragraph break. It’s a natural way of quietly implying “On the other hand…” in a reader’s mind. And two juxtaposing paragraphs are great to lead to a third paragraph with a solid conclusion if there’s something your character is considering warily.

Break Shot for Shot

Ray Bradbury once wrote that he places a paragraph break each time he sees the camera choose a new angle in the visualization of his story in his mind. Many of us visualize books similarly to how they appear in movies, so this can be a natural way for an author to consider their own breaks. Much like in books, most movies see many changes of camera angles in dialogue or during particularly high-action scenes. But a long, dramatic pan toward a character can give its viewers a lot of insight and intrigue with just a few extra seconds.

Break for Relativity to Scenes in Books

One more great way to think creatively about when to add a paragraph break is to think of it similarly to scenes in a book. Every scene has a particular point it’s trying to. Basically, each scene of a book can be boiled down to a single sentence, and how each scene builds chapters and each chapter builds a book is paramount to the reader experience. Paragraphs and sentences do the same. They have a particular part to play in building your scene, and then you move on to the next to build toward that final climax.

Like with many social concepts in life, when to place paragraph breaks doesn’t have many hard and fast rules. Though there are many implied niceties that most people feel uncomfortable when broken. Following your writer’s intuition is key, but having some guidelines for when you’re unsure can make a huge difference in finding readers—and agents—who connect with your story.