Editing for Breath

The Hidden Pulse

I spent the morning reading a particularly dense section of my manuscript and realized I was physically holding my breath while reading it. This is a clear sign of prose that is too cluttered.

A well-crafted page should have a pulse. It should guide the reader’s lungs. After a series of long, complex thoughts, give the reader a short, punchy sentence to act as a “breath.” We must remember that reading is a physical act. If you don’t give the reader room to inhale, they will eventually stop reading just to catch their breath.

The Monroe Minute
Look for a paragraph that has three or more long sentences in a row. Break one of them into two short ones.

Until the next page,
Sloane S. Monroe

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Sloane Shay Monroe

I don’t write to idealize love, but to explore it honestly, with emotional precision and depth.