Posted on December 28, 2020 at 11:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Even if you’re not writing with the audiobook in mind, and even if your reader never speaks your words aloud, your book will be “heard” by its consumers — in their heads.
C.S. Lakin says this is yet another reason to consider the rhythm of your sentence and paragraph structures.
She refers to the amount of words that a reader will hear as being read without pause as a “breath unit” and illustrates how these affect the way they consume content.
So what’s the ideal length of a breath unit and the ideal placement for pauses?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but of course Lakin recommends reading prominent authors in your genre to get a handle on what your readers might be seeking.
Head to Live Write Thrive to read more about breath units and practice observing their effects.
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