Writers, your story is only alive if your readers can envision your scenery and sense your tone with their inner ear. When your tone rises and falls in the right places, then the reader begins to anticipate what you will say next.
That rise and fall is called a beat.
Let's break it down.
A beat is a small unit of action, a meaningful moment, or an emotional shift that moves the story forward.
Beats reveal:
- Movement and progress
- Personality
- Mood
- Internal thought
They help you read the room and check the emotional temperature of a scene.
An Example of Beats in Dialogue
There are several examples of beats and beat exercises documented in, Write The Book Already! Course Book Collection Here is one example.
“I don’t love you anymore,” she said.
He looked away, jaw clenched.
“That’s not what you said last night.”
Beat: He looked away, jaw clenched..
This pause interrupts the dialogue just long enough to show emotional response without explanation. The beat gives the moment weight—and tension.
Did your inner ear perk up?
Do you want to know what happens next?
If the answer is yes, then the beat did its job.
Writing Tip:
If your story is dialogue-heavy and lacks beats, the story flatlines.
Beats are the rhythm that keeps your reader turning pages.
Thanks for reading. Please come again.
Happy Writing!
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