“So often the long paragraphs I write in life are responses to Facebook posts, or reply letters to someone, or … I can put together a three-paragraph letter that burns the hair off of your eyebrows about almost any topic.”
– John Roderick on the Road Work podcast
I like this thought technology: Where do the long paragraphs come from in your life?
A long paragraph isn’t inherently a good or a bad thing, but it is instructive. It points to a passion or a pain point. A bugaboo or a peeve. Or perhaps just an absolute mental muddle. If one pops up while in a piece I’m writing, it’s often a sign I need to expand — more structure, maybe another section. If one pops up while I’m using social media, it’s often a sign I need to shut my computer and go take a walk!