When you write something, it needs to follow a certain flow. While this can certainly happen automatically, you can improve the flow of your writing by paying close attention to your techniques. Here are a few tips on helping you write with rhythm:
Keep Shifting Phrases and Words
When writing, keep in mind that English is a flexible language. Different parts of speech share interrelationships, but these are negotiable for words with relative positions that represent categories. You must keep relocating phrases and words around until you have a perfect sentence and everything falls into its preordained places. A simple way to do this is by reading your writing out loud.
Match the Mood and Rhythm
Make sure the rhythm and length of the sentence match the mood you’re writing in. For example, if you’re describing a beautiful landscape, you should include cascading and evocative imagery. When writing long sentences, make use of metaphors that will help the reader experience a physical sensation, and help them visualize what you’re describing. When describing a flow of events in an exciting incident, it is best to use simple words. This way, the description becomes more effective.
Play with Sentence Length
Alternate the length of your sentences. This can be done in extremes and contrasts to deliver a specific reading experiences. Long, meandering, run-on sentences that act as a contextual wind-up could be followed by short, one to three word sentences that resolve the tension setup by the previous longer sentences, similar to a punchline.
If you need some inspiration, look to stand up comedy routines. Music is also a great source for this.
Incorporate Tension and Release
Using the approach of musical compositions that rely on the principle of building up stress or emotion and a counterpointed relief from the buildup in your writing is a good thing. Your writing will benefit from this approach by moving the reader along the lines of tension and release.
Use Sentence Fragments
The law against the use of incomplete sentences was dropped a long time ago. As a matter of fact, the law never existed, except in the handbooks of stern grammarians. It is normal to use incomplete sentences as people speak in these all the time! When it comes to writing, rather than the use of informal prose, it should reflect constructed communication that derives from sentence fragments.
All of these should help you write with a natural rhythm.
