5 Ways to Write Better Paragraphs (for creative writers)

How to write better paragraphs for novelists and other creative writers.
Hint: It has a lot to do with voice, perspective, POV
Help support the channel: / ellenbrock

[@kit888]

2:05 (1) Avoid monotonous sentences - Cause: Over reliance on subject-verb at the start of the sentence - Example: he walked into... he grabbed... he picked up... he put it into - Solutions: combine sentences (removes "he" in example above), replace repeated words, vary sentence structure, add POV thoughts and feelings to break up the action and use emotionally charged words. 08:20 (2) Avoid awkward word repetition - Problem: replacing words can result in unnatural sentences, confuse the reader, or change nuance - Solution: add POV thoughts and feelings so that neutral/observational words are naturally replaced with more varied and charged words (not for omniscient POV, maybe covered in a later video). Remaining repeated words become less noticeable. 16:34 (3) Don't split the paragraph's focus - Exception: is okay to have multiple points if the points are related or flow into each other - Problem: can be difficult to separate out the different points if they are similar but still different - Solution: look through character's POV to see which points belong together, then rearrange the sentences accordingly (can still be in one paragraph or split into a few) 23:00 (4) Center paragraphs around a specific point - Problem: paragraphs that have no specific purpose - Cause: looking at paragraph construction as an artistic way to make the prose dynamic, punchy or interesting - Solution: follow the old school essay advice of centering paragraphs around one idea - Pattern 1: easy with pure introspection, harder but better if action and introspection are mixed to reinforce each other - Pattern 2: a random list of observations - better to filter the observations through the character's POV and biases - Pattern 3: information paragraphs to bring the reader up to speed (often at the chapter beginning) - add character's POV slant to the information 31:45 (5) Use paragraph length strategically - Long paragraphs feel slower, more thoughtful, introspective - Short paragraphs feel faster, more intense, action oriented, urgent - Generally, shorter paragraphs are the better choice. Keep them under 200 words for easy reading.

[@Proyecto_PC]

this is so helpful, tysm!

[@BlackHermit]

Thank you so much for the summary!

[@markwilliamson9140]

Thanks so much

[@watchmakersp9935]

Amazing help...thanks a million.

[@luzianb914]

Thanks heaps

[@JohannAlbrecht]

The examples explored in your videos are always much more beneficial than others. I appreciate your effort tremendously! 👍

[@EllenBrock]

Thank you so much!

[@chrisongames]

@@EllenBrock I agree. Showing concrete examples is much more educational than just commentary. I am going to look for this type of video going forward.

[@rickhammer7204]

Agreed. Also the fact that the examples are more nuanced rather than just the obvious examples of an issue that are usually never the type that are hard to solve

[@arose3230]

Not to knock any other writing youtuber but this is so true. the examples really help understand the concepts better

[@coachjameshoughtaling1365]

@@EllenBrockagreeing totally. The way you lay these out makes so much sense!

[@Trashcan-Man]

He walked into the store, took a cart--of course it had a squeaking wheel--and stormed over to the produce section. The rows of broccoli were pathetic, sickly and wilted, and he regarded them with disdain... and then he saw it. It was magnificent. A head of broccoli had never looked so perfect before, so moist with potential. It practically leapt into his hand, and he lifted it over his head, letting out a primal scream of victory before slamming it into his cart. He strutted away with his head held high, briefly locking eyes with the produce stocker, who was staring at him with eyes the size of watermelons. That's right. We're having broccoli tonight, b*tch.

[@jazminegray6718]

loved that

[@EllenBrock]

This sounds like The Way of the Househusband!

[@RobinEgbertss]

Amazing!

[@socialanxiety9153]

Lol!! That was beautiful

[@edenmckinley3472]

This was the most entertaining account of a shopping trip that I've ever read!

[@riverAmazonNZ]

So helpful! I loved the section about “Eric looked up at the tall building”. Exactly what I needed!

[@EllenBrock]

So glad it was helpful!

[@RobKirton-je2fw]

Hello Ellen. Tonight was the first time I've seen any of your videos. You are an excellent teacher, and I am learning a lot from you. (I'm 67 years old). What impresses me most is that you are incredibly adept while speaking from the heart/brain. You don't appear to have "rehearsed" your lines, and you're not reading from a teleprompter. You appear brilliant because you rarely pause while searching quickly for the right word, concept and intonation -- verbal and physical. You're amazing! Thank you for putting out these videos. I have now happily become a new subscriber.

[@element-alchemist8875]

Always a good day when Ellen drops a new video.

[@olgathehandmaid]

This channel is pure gold, your examples are so helpful. Writing "rules" seem so abstract to us amateur writers, but when you dismantled that paragraph, it gave me so much confidence! If I'd come across it in my writing I would have deleted it and rewritten it, but you showed how to restructure it into something pretty damn good! Thank you so much!

[@mom2many166]

How do you simplify these issues in writing so well, and then explain them so perfectly! I knew I needed this video, but I would have never known how to explain what my issues are. You're the best!

[@EllenBrock]

I'm so glad the video helped!

[@kris_pang]

This is soooooooooo helpful. I have never been in a class where I'm 100% interested in everything talked about.

[@stevecarter8810]

I love how in each video you caution us to use our own judgement before reeling off tips that would immeasurably improve 90% of the output for 90% of your audience. Most of us could use a phase where we simply do slavishly apply all the suggestions, but you are taking care that we shouldn't get stuck there.

[@LeviathantheMighty]

Oh wow! Watching this makes me realize why my book is so lame, like background noise. My paragraphs will need to be rewritten, and I'm 90% finished with my story! Oh boy, I got a lot more work to do!

[@stagename2]

Take heart, it’s all part of the process.

[@Trashcan-Man]

Yeah don't sweat it. I had to do the same thing. It's time consuming, but in the end it's worth it to know you're learning how to write better.

[@Tee9156]

Yet another clutch video. She always comes back with a banger. Man's been struggling to write anything remotely good these days.

[@QuotidianWriter]

Another brilliant video! In particular, I love how you address the pitfalls of sentence-level revision. Trying to avoid certain issues sometimes creates *more* problems. The solutions here are excellent, and I absolutely agree that improving prose comes down to adding more narrative voice and filtering through the POV. Thanks for sharing! :)

[@dannyperez1604]

I was amazed at 7:20 when you took that boring sequence of actions and made it 1000x better by adding character voice and introspection.

[@VictorianEvening]

😱😱😱 I love your videos! You’ve been so helpful. I just started my first novel and was struggling bc I was writing like an Intuitive Plotter. But after your 4 Types of Writers video, I realized I’m a methodological pantser! So freeing. Thank you!

[@EllenBrock]

You're so welcome! I'm glad I could help!

[@lorettaknoelk3475]

I must have missed the The Methodical Pantser but by the name, I am definitely that!

[@VictorianEvening]

@@lorettaknoelk3475 Look for her video, 4 Types of Writers. It’s definitely eye opening and she even tells you what methods work best for each type.

[@lorettaknoelk3475]

@@VictorianEvening That's what I mean by I must have missed ut. I watched that one but I guess I forgot that one.

[@vicentevalenzuela4624]

Currently writing the third act of my first novel and having a blast. Your videos on 4 act story structure really opened my eyes! It's always a good day when you upload a video :)

[@RobinEgbertss]

Your explanation of muddled paragraphs is going to be sooo helpful to me. Especially when editing. So far I've been editing my paragraphs by 'feel' alone, and while that worked well enough, knowing what to look for will speed things up a lot. It's insane to me how you manage to explain common advice points in a way that I really understand. Your point about making sure your paragraphs serve a purpose beyond just describing actions. Like, I've heard that advice many times before. But you actually explain HOW to do that. It's great. The bit about avoiding repetition started pretty predictably for me. But then you rewrote a paragraph by varying the sentence structure as much as possible. And that's probably how I would have done it. So when you said it sounded unnatural I was surprised. The passive voice bit was the only thing I would have changed. But then you rewrote it again, going deeper into the POV, and it was a huge improvement. I'm going to try and replicate this right away with the next chapter I'm writing!

[@stagename2]

Loving this level of breakdown. 😊

[@robray111]

Gosh, who are you? You offer some of the best writing advice on the internet: competent, methodical, passionate, and smart. This feels like a crash course in creative writing... Thank You!

[@danagreen6518]

I find your inspiration and insight spot on. Thank you for taking the initiative and time to provide these ideas. From the coast of maine. I’ m a 70 yo guy trying to write short stories . Bravo to you.

[@inertia86]

It's nice to see you back. I hope you have been okay

[@calebghormley2322]

Your videos are incredibly helpful. I'd usually write something useful or specific, but I'm tired and I just felt like it was worth feeding the engagement algorithm 😅

[@cloearchuleta8262]

I can't believe you're back to uploading videos regularly! I'm going to cry!

[@EllenBrock]

Regularly, but slowly! Ha ha.

[@mikaylamarks7361]

Ellen you’re my fave author tuber right now. Everything you say is always spot on ❤ good to see u

[@EllenBrock]

Awww, thank you!

[@nnaammuuss]

Yei!! it's Ellen!! 🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂🙃

[@ichbifeuertrunk]

My thoughts, exactly.

[@giantpizzafish]

Excuse me! That is Ellen Brock Novel Editor!

[@Bobson_Dugnutt_Esq]

Every time I watch this channel, I find that problems that seemed previously unsolvable, just need a new perspective. Great stuff, as always!

[@EllenBrock]

Great to hear!

[@kokoro_flow]

I needed this, thank you! 😊

[@abettermind]

Beautifully done video. Thank you. This is a good example of quality content that isn't edited into an action cartoon, and I appreciate the hell out of that.

[@Asminae391]

Always a pleasure to see a new video from you!

[@rary19]

The examples you provide alongside your explanations are so helpful, it really makes your content stand out from the rest! Thank you.

[@igamergirl14]

I'm actually writing a story right now that has each "chapter" at only 200-500 words. For me the paragraph advice is almost like advices for chapters on that! For one of the longer ones I've also been struggling with writing it in general and not wanting it to appear too bland. Voice and perspective are things that are essential in good writing yet I feel that they're hardly talked about in this sort of depth. When I start writing and editing for it again I will definitely keep all these in mind.

[@kaylaprice9076]

I recently came back to writing after a 13 year break. Academia really ruined my motivation for creativity, but I recently wrote 6k words (big deal for me!) but couldn’t figure out why it felt so lifeless. I found your video and the one tackling sentence structure and suddenly all the shortcomings seemed glaringly obvious. I went through and tried some of these strategies on two paragraphs and just sat back like. Oh. OH. THAT’S what it was missing. Thank you so much!

[@x2433]

I love your videos because not only are your examples really clear and educational, but they also give us great reccomendations of whole texts to examine!

[@ShaleNinja]

This, like all your work, is so brilliantly helpful. Sometimes it's "oh, DUH" moments where you take the hammer out of our hands and stop the ridiculous game of whack-a-mole with cold hard facts and super helpful examples. Sometimes you, as Brandon Sanderson puts it, show us how the sausage is made, complete with recipes. But this one, for me, put to methodical words an instinct I've been running on after years (decades?) of writing shitty fanfiction that seems to hit emotional notes for readers. I've always held Opinions™ about passages I've read or written when they seem meandering, unfocused or boring, but boy do you perfectly explain the why and how behind it. I've got a playlist collecting the best of the writing advice content I stumble across on KZbin, and man...every one of your videos ends up on there as I frantically take notes!

[@juliab3326]

As someone who has struggled with repetitive and limited writing (especially since expressing myself in English doesn´t come natural to me) the provided examples have been immensely helpful. Your way of analysing problems and offering solutions made me grasp concepts I struggled to understand. I appreciate your intentional choice of expressions and the pleasant speed - fast enough not to get bored, slow enough to let the learned sink in - without falling into the trap of using unnecessary words distracting from the essence. Thanks to your valuable input, I not only feel much more capable of tackling shortcomings in my writing but am also eager to work on them.

[@Benz74M]

This is the best video I've seen on the subject, and I've watched a lot. I write in French, but all of the advice applies. Thanks!

[@jaredkrichevsky958]

Discovered your channel a few months ago and you always offer excellent advice and perspective.

[@WillGraham-uv1ol]

7:12 emotionally charged words and getting into lizzys POV, 8:03 observational and distant, 12:29 want to write from a perspective, some bias, emotional charge, not neutral 14:30 omniscient still has a slant, 21:41 1 idea per para

[@tyronewilliams7556]

This was immensely helpful. Knowing a paragraph doesn't work can be frustrating, but understanding why is liberating. Thank you so much!

[@IchNachtLiebe]

This is my first viewing of one of your videos. I've been doing a lot of research in an attempt to tackle my first novel. I really like your straight to the point format. Although this is a long video for this subject matter (compared to others of similar genre on KZbin) it feels like each segment has purpose and addresses the final questions one piece at a time. Almost like a.... well written novel😉

[@BygonesBeingBygones]

I'm really glad you're back at these. I found your past videos very helpful when writing my first novel. Always happy to add considerations. :)

[@LoveSaidNo]

This video is - like always - a great help. Especially creating depth with diving into the perspective to avoid monotony is a very good point. And when you try to find out the point of the whole paragraph (with dividing a muddled paragraph into the different themes) is a brilliant example of editing and I really respect the work of every editor!

[@theabelmontero]

I've been following for years but this video is the one. I'm sold. Subscribing to your Patreon because the content is going better and better. And delivered beautifully

[@sally3559]

As always, super helpful advise. Love your videos.

[@thelvey1]

That paragraph exercise separating and categorizing the individual concerns of the character was great! Thanks!

[@JadeJuniiper]

Your way of breaking down and explain story structure has literally changed the way I read and write (for the better) Thank you for all the time and energy you put into your videos.

[@thesaraviamama3052]

I am currently writing my first novel ever, and I am immediately grateful for finding your channel!

[@greengrendel]

Bless you, you're the only channel that really addresses what my problems are with writing. I'm a messy thinker so my writing gets tangled up in loops at the sentence level. The bit about sorting a paragraph by focus is so useful!

[@galenpalo]

I just came across your channel a few days ago and I’ve found your presentation impeccable. Very informative and enlightening. I of course have subscribed. Thanks for the great lessons!

[@duckcluck123]

This is one of the best writing improvement videos I've ever seen. Well done

[@richgrisham]

Ellen, thank you - this is a great service you provide.

[@luckyboypictures]

Ellen, you're an amazing teacher, keep up the good work.

[@afkoppauthor]

Thank you so much for explaining this in depth. I knew that I needed more help with paragraphs, and this video helps clarify so much and take the fear out of it. Thanks a billion times!

[@5idi]

This was amazing. Please do omniscient narrator video! I love it, it actually connects more to the reader in my opinion, as watching other people is what we do every day. Rarely we become other people in real life. If done right, the reader can sort of live in that world beside the characters. It also helps pass background information the characters have no reason to dwell upon in an engaging manner. For a person like me who thinks most written (or filmed) characters are stupid and exasperating and narrow, adding that outside perspective is a savior.

[@feelswriter]

And if it's not too weird, maybe free indirect style, too?

[@5idi]

@@feelswriter Oh, I love that too. I occasionally write both of these, in the equally unfashionable present tense. Would love a video.

[@thakiusmuckfeather1103]

Very helpful, Ellen, particularly how you take paragraphs apart and put them back together.

[@bnjmnwst]

Great content! Thank you, Ellen.

[@EllenBrock]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1ValorANDglory1]

Ellen, you are a savior! This video, like all others is super helpful and informative but in the part about the boy looking at the building I'd argue that the paragraph was perfect the way it was. it was understadable, completly coherent and showed that thew boys toughts were all over as he was nervous. It felt more clunky after you restructured it into three parts.

[@TalonZaff]

After watching your Sentences video and finding it so insightful, I had to watch this too. Another great set of examples and advice. There were cases where I was doing some of it intuitively and even seeing your "solution" paragraphs and being able to say 'yes, that feels so much better' but now understanding why that is. Thank you.

[@ffstopP]

Well done, Ellen. You're an excellent teacher - clear & concise, and use useful examples. This is helpful.

[@ddahstan6876]

I am so happy and feel so privileged to watch your videos! They help me so much as a novice writer. Will write with your advice consciously in mind. Thank YOU!

[@TheInfamousBertman]

Thank you very much for this. Whenever I watch one of your videos I almost feel like I have to take time to process and assimilate the info which is a sign of what a rich seam of knowledge and wisdom they have. Most underrated booktuber IMO.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Really great work! This is also better information about writing voice than I've seen anywhere else.

[@--Sama-]

This is one of my favourite topics. Thank you for the video.

[@Ruby-gy3wj]

Congrats on 100 videos! good job, keep it going!

[@Jackie_Tikki_Tavi]

Helps a ton. I'm writing in order to better understand how to learn to become an editor for others, and when I do, I usually break paragraphs when I feel I'm done...with something. This brings a clarity through learning to pay attention to intention and discerning what's deliberate and what's flavor. It also helps deal with the oh so pesky "show, don't tell" that crows around any writer, amateur and not. So, thanks. Subscribed after two videos, going into a third.

[@leighb398]

You are so talented. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@azriel9499]

All the bad examples sound exactly like something I would write... I'm definitely going to be using this video to get better at writing paragraphs!

[@TT-wx4tg]

Just subbed ❤ Thanks for all your hard work.

[@jimmygable569]

Been watching you for a while, and I always get a lot out of your videos, thanks!

[@winterrenes1249]

Another super helpful video, thank you so much!

[@spectre_26]

Thank you so much!! This was extremely helpful.

[@thecottagelibrary]

I am learning so much from your videos! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! 🤎

[@simoiiskola4158]

This is who I'd do the paragraphs in question in a vacuum, without any other knowledge on what's happenin (for practice if nothing else). However, it's good to remember that a smart person can get out of situations a wise doesn't even end up in: if you're struggling with a difficult paragraph, the reason might be that you've written yourself in a corner. He walked into the store, grabbed a cart, and strolled / stumbled / skipped / shuffled (depending on his mood) to the produce. He chose a head of broccoli and placed it into the cart. Lizzy picked up her bag from under the desk and yanked out the book, knocking off her lunch in the process. She slammed the heavy book on the desk with a loud thud and opened it. "Where is it?" she muttered, frantically flipping through page after page, for what felt like an eternity. "There!" Lizzy exclaimed finally, clapping her hands togeher. Bill ran around the corner and stumbled upon his friend, who stood up and leaned against the corner with his hand. The bag was in his other hand. (assuming the bag has been established to be something Bill is chasing after) Eric looked up at the tall corporate headquarters / housing estate / city block / factory, nothing like it in his little seaside village. Taller than anything he'd seen before, the building had enourmous curved windows and a ominous / inviting / imposing large gold door. The sight made a lump come up in his throat. "What answers would lie within?" he thought to himself. He toyed with / grasped / clenched the money in his pocket, unsure if getting in was worth the cost. He'd come so far already, his plan had to work. He had no choice.

[@watchmakersp9935]

As ever in your great collection of videos this is very very helpful...thank you from UK.

[@chuzzbot]

Thank you so much for not saying 'often times'. Now I can sleep without nightmares.

[@shalysophia8281]

This video has helped me so much. Thank you!

[@tracyyoung4484]

Very informative Ellen. Thanks from Australia.

[@ahmettopcu1241]

Thank you very much. These videos so benefical for me. Thanks Ellen.

[@amysrandomrants]

This was so helpful!! Thank you!

[@Akigirl2004]

So glad to see a new video of yours :)

[@AmyLahr149]

This vid was great! 🙌🏻 I always like before I watch your vids and I’m never let down by the content! The examples you give really click with me. Thanks for another brilliant one I can keep coming back to 😄 I’d actually be really interested in a video on omniscient pov if you do decide to make one 🤔 x

[@kat-nr9ic]

I've been binging writing tips vids the past few days. Just discovered yours, and wow! Most helpful and interesting ones by far. Will probably spend next while binging them all. Ideally inbetween doing some actual writing haha. My little sistet also loves to write. Am after sending her link to your video on sentences. I think she'll find it super useful!

[@danmanning2006]

Your videos are incredibly helpful

[@gothbricks2000]

Love your videos. As always, the examples are incredibly pragmatic and applicable. Cheers. 🙏

[@notllikethat]

This was lovely, thank you so much!

[@bradkrupsaw]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@llawliet72]

This really really helps! Thank you!

[@moshecallen]

As usual, excellent video. I've only ever been an amateur editor. You've not addressed (so far at about halfway through the video) an issue that I see with the the ran… ran example. What strikes me as jarring is that the first use of "ran" is literal, but the second so close to it is ambiguous and could be literal or could be idiomatic. The default meaning to me of the expression "ran into a friend" is to unexpectedly encounter them. One cold stylistically repeat the same word but if one does so, the meaning needs to be the same throughout. At least, that's my thought. I'm not at your level of editing expertise.

[@user-uz7dm6qn3y]

This was very helpful, thank you.

[@gregario888]

Awesome content, Ellen!

[@storydevice]

This video might’ve been just what I needed. I’m in the middle of self-editing, and I’ve outlined enough to know where my story begins, but there’s something about certain passages of mine that I just didn’t like. The problem: I needed to work on keeping up and building a train of thought for more than a couple sentences. Thanks for the guide, Ellen!

[@amandatavares4741]

Ellen, you are a treasure

[@katehaycock7127]

This is really fantastic writing advice, thank you!

[@michellej1372]

Such useful info! Thank you. I can see things I'm doing wrong and this has been so helpful.

[@annafife9094]

Yes to omniscient narrator! I know it's out of fashion but NO ONE gives advice on this style anymore and I really enjoy writing this way. ☺️

[@5idi]

I actually really love it! Don't care about fashion!

[@BKPrice]

One way to deal with the walked issue would be to remove "walked" altogether, since it is implied. "He went into the store" says the same thing without the same repetition. Also, you could say "He leaned against a corner of the building, winded" without the word hand coming into play because, again, it's implied. We all probably know what it's like to be winded and lean against something braced by one hand.

[@RocketJo86]

I really have o thank you for your videos, again. I am stuck on the revision of a chapter of my current work for almost three weeks now. I can only pass by sentence by sentence. The structure is fully in place, but I felt that something was off. I couldn't grasp it, thou. After watching the video it became clear to me, that a lot of my issues probably stem from me not getting close enough to my POV-character here (it's the first chapter from his POV, he only had two short scenes before, which aren't good either). I need to have a specific look for that as soon as I get back to work. Thank you so so much for this!

[@BRIII__1]

As a roleplayer and story writer, this really helped! Teachers never teach this in class, and they should! I would've never known this if I never came across this video!

[@shawkigahrani9589]

Thank you so much for this useful information 😊

[@waimeiwong6667]

Thank you so much for sharing!