The opening of 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald is also remarkable. 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.”' This opening gives us a sense of the narrator's character, his self - reflection, and also sets up the idea of class differences and judgment that are central to the novel.
One example could be 'The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the small town. The streets were quiet, except for the occasional bark of a dog in the distance. It was the kind of evening that held secrets waiting to be uncovered.'
In 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the opening paragraph is quite evocative. 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.”' This sets up the narrator's perspective and gives a hint of the moral and social commentary that will be threaded throughout the novel.
Writing long paragraphs in novels has several challenges. Firstly, there's the issue of coherence. With more words and ideas in a long paragraph, it can be hard to make sure that everything ties together logically. For example, if you start a long paragraph talking about a character's past and then shift to their present actions without a smooth transition, it can be jarring for the reader. Secondly, pacing can be a problem. A long paragraph might slow down the overall pace of the story when a quicker tempo is needed. And finally, it's challenging to avoid repetition. When writing at length in a paragraph, there's a risk of repeating the same ideas or phrases, which can make the writing seem dull.
One great example could be from 'The Lightning Thief' by Rick Riordan. The ending paragraph ties up the main adventure of Percy Jackson, giving a sense of accomplishment and also hinting at more to come. It makes the reader feel satisfied with how Percy has grown throughout the story and excited for future quests. It's like a warm hug at the end of a long journey, leaving you with a positive feeling about the characters and their world.
It depends on the flow of the story. You might use a new paragraph when there's a change in scene, character's thoughts, or a shift in the focus of the narrative.
The first paragraph of 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville is also long. It begins with 'Call me Ishmael.' and then goes on to describe Ishmael's state of mind and his reasons for going to sea. Melville uses this long paragraph to establish Ishmael as the narrator and to give a sense of the adventure and mystery that lies ahead in the story of the hunt for the white whale.
Well, a good rule of thumb is to make a new paragraph when the focus or the scene in the story changes. Like when the setting moves from one place to another, or when a different character starts to have the main role. Also, if there's a time jump, that's a cue for a new paragraph.
You can combine short paragraphs. If you have two or three that are related in theme or action, merge them. For instance, instead of having a paragraph that says 'She entered the room.' and then another that says 'The room was dark.', you could make it 'She entered the room. It was dark, the shadows swallowing the corners like a hungry beast.' Also, expand on the consequences of actions. So if a character makes a choice, write about how that choice immediately affects the situation and the characters around them.
In most cases, a single space is sufficient between paragraphs in non-fiction. It helps to organize the text and make it more readable. However, some styles may call for no space or multiple spaces, depending on specific guidelines.