Pet Peeve #5 - Beginning Paragraphs
This is a pet peeve I haven’t seen talked about as much as other “newbie” mistakes, but neither is it something quite as noticeable if you aren’t looking for it. (That is, unless it gets to the level of being completely obvious.)
What I’m talking about is with what word you write consecutive paragraphs. Imagine each of these is the beginning to a new paragraph in a book you’re reading:
“John couldn’t wait until that evening’s festival…
He walked down the dirt road until…
He smiled up at the clear blue sky…
He yawned, but his yawn was interrupted when…”
Do you see what I’m aiming at. Sometimes starting most, if not all, of your paragraphs with the same word (even on a single page) can be just as hazardous and off-putting for the reader as starting sentence after sentence with the same word. This little pet peeve can pop up a lot, as you can imagine, in areas with little conversation.
Thankfully, this is an easy check; just go through your notebook or word document, only taking the first word of each paragraph into account.
Happy writing and editing. 
new writer mistakes, fiction writing, writing tips, writing dos and don’ts
January 4th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Oh, I know! I am always catching myself doing that. (and you have: “…with the same work” BTW. I think you meant “word.”)
January 4th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
You caught me! Now THAT’S why you proofread more than once.