Shannon here: R.F. Whong shares insight into her writing process, plus a chance to download a multi-author cook book. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Oct 21st – Nov 1st to enter the drawing for 3 other titles in my Oct Book Bundle #2. Deadline: Nov 8th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s R.F.:
Sentence Variety in Fiction Writing: 
Believe it or not, even after publishing ten fiction books and being named a 2025 Featured Author by Minnesota’s Anoka County Library, I still sometimes wrestle with sentence variety.
Here is an example from my work-in-progress, Fire Between Two Skies (Dual-time Odyssey Book 3, to be released in 2026).
(1) Original Text:
He forced himself to lift his head.
She looked at him. “You didn’t lie to the court or to me. That’s courage.”
He swallowed hard, shame pinching at his ribs. “I feel filthy. Like there’s tar under my skin that won’t wash away.”
(2) Minor Tweak:
He forced himself to lift his head.
Her gaze locked with his. “You didn’t lie to the court or to me. That’s courage.”
He swallowed hard, shame pinching at his ribs. “I feel filthy. Like there’s tar under my skin that won’t wash away.”
(3) More Tweak:
He forced himself to look up.
Her gaze held his. “You didn’t lie to the court or to me. That’s courage.”
Shame pinched his ribs; he swallowed. “I feel filthy—like tar under my skin that won’t scrub free.”
Do you agree that the third version is better?
Why does sentence variety matter? Using the same sentence structure can lead to the following issues:
- Monotony and Boredom: Repetition can sap the energy from the writing, making it dull and unengaging for readers.
- Lack of Emphasis: Varying sentence structures allows the author to highlight important points. Uniformity can make it harder for key information to stand out.
- Limited Expression: Different ideas and nuances often require different structures to convey them effectively. Repetition can restrict the ability to fully express complex thoughts.
- Reader Fatigue: Predictable sentence patterns can tire readers, causing them to lose interest and potentially miss important information.
- Weak Rhythm and Flow: A mixture of sentence lengths and types creates a more natural and pleasing rhythm. Repetition can disrupt the flow of the writing, making it harder to read.
- Reduced Engagement: Varying sentence structure can invoke curiosity and keep readers on their toes. Predictability hinders engagement, making the writing less compelling.
Varying sentence structure is a key aspect of keeping writing dynamic and interesting, thereby maintaining the reader’s attention and effectively conveying your message.
Of course, variety is a tool, not a mandate. Repetition can be powerful when the author wants drumbeat intensity. As a fiction writer, I aim for clarity first, then adjust openings, lengths, and beats to tune the scene’s music.
About Ruth: Dr. Ruth Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books under R. F. Whong. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.
She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.
In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.
The Minnesota Anoka County Library has chosen her as a 2025 Featured Author. One of her books, Echoes over Stormy Sea, won several awards, including being chosen by readers as a winner in the HOLT Medallion Contest. Learn more & connect:
Ruth’s Facebook Ruth’s X Ruth’s Website
Ruth’s Linkedin Ruth’s Instagram Ruth’s Goodreads
Reader Question: Do you think sentence variety matters in fiction writing?
Note: To download this giveaway, you need to sign up for my weekly newsletter. But you can unsubscribe anytime after the download. There’s no obligation.
Oct Book Bundle #2 Giveaway:
Don’t Blink by Jordyn Redwood & eleven other authors, Romantic Suspense, e-book copy of the complete box set
Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong, Contemporary Romantic Suspense, print
Salvaged and Liabetes by Shanna M. Heath, Young Adult Contemporary Romance, print
A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly Irvin, Amish Romance, print
About the book – Thunders over Idle Land (Action/Adventure; Dual-time Odyssey Book 2):
A hero’s adventure…
Two eras, one troubled land, two men bound by parallel existences across centuries.
Book 2 in this dual-time odyssey series showcases the enduring resilience of the human spirit.
Jason Guan, an assistant director dedicated to environmental conservation in pandemic-stricken Hong Kong, is worried about job-related pressures and petty quarrels threatening his marriage to Debra. Amidst the chaos, they discover an unpublished manuscript by Debra’s late father, a celebrated writer, about a wronged man in nineteenth-century China. While Jason grapples with corruption and lax regulations in wetland preservation, he is thrust into dangerous waters.
In 1834, systemic corruption cripples China and ruins lives. Two weeks before Wang Jun is to marry his beloved fiancée, he is thrown into a maximum-security prison on a remote island without a trial. His only ally? A kung fu master and medical doctor imprisoned because of a riddle linked to the buried treasure of the pirate chief, Cheng Po-Tsai.
When greed and exploitation overshadow justice, these men must navigate their respective perils. With a suspenseful connection between the past and present, how do they fight against the insurmountable tides?
Interested in Ruth’s other titles? Get your copy/copies now!
Thunders over Idle Land Ruth’s Books
Come back Oct 23rd for Lori DeJong!
Thank you for sharing! I love seeing the process and progress in writing.
Just like music needs variation in tempo and tone, writing needs variation in sentence length and structure. If every sentence is the same length or starts the same way, the prose feels flat and predictable. Varied sentences keep readers engaged and help the story breathe.