Monday, 19 October 2026
The Art of Repetition by Barbara Jean Miller
Writers are sometimes criticized for being repetitious, but there are times for repeating phrases
that are almost poetic and add so much to dialogue, expressing contradiction, emphasis, exaggeration,
argument, humor, and mounting passion.
Here are some examples of when repetition adds power to the writing.
Contradiction
“In fact, he could not or would not give me the account books.”
“You suspect him of carelessness?” Caroline asked.
“I suspect him of embezzlement.” (Likely Suspects)
Vincent’s smile slid away to a look of genuine concern. “Someone tried to kill you?”
“Someone almost succeeded,” Mark said, standing and weighing the satchel on his injured
right side, then shifting it to his left arm. (Likely Suspects)
Emphasis
Normally you start sentences in a variety of ways, but the repetition here has impact.
“I mean they were probably prepared to stab him to death and leave him there. They wanted all
our bodies at some distance or not found at all.”
She was relieved and shocked at the same time. Mark did not blame Vincent, yet had no
illusions about what would have happened to them. “He will be upset.”
“He is a soldier. He is used to this sort of thing.” (Likely Suspects)
Exaggeration
Brandon nodded. “My celibacy also has something to do with finding my opera dancer
in bed with another man. I was keeping her. He was keeping her. God knows how many other
men were keeping her at the same time. She had a full calendar.” (Two Hearts)
Argument
He seated her in the best chair and took the sofa next to Marian. “No, of course not, but that is
what they think. And what they think right now is far more important than the truth.”
“Nothing can be more important than the truth,” Hill said.
“In London society, nothing could be further from the truth,” Wyle replied. (Governess for a Week)
General Cochran chuckled. “Why do you like chess so much?”
“Because it’s just a game. It doesn’t matter.”
The intense gaze bore into him. “Nothing is just a game. Everything matters.”
Gerard nodded and lost to his grandfather as gracefully as he always had to his father.
(Reluctant Heir)
Humor
“Normally, I admire snap judgments.”
“When they are correct?” she countered.
“When they are mine,” he said. (Fortune’s Folly)
Mounting Passion
She backed away from him, but he did not let go of her hands. “If-if this had happened years
ago when I had my come-out, it would have been perfect. If my father was not missing under a cloud of
suspicion, it might have been perfect. If you were not a soldier, it might still be perfect. But we are
where we are. I am a governess and you are a peer who may or may not be married to a living woman
and who may die if you return to war.” (Governess for a Week)
“If only your father could have accepted me.”
“A younger son with no portion? They looked higher for me.”
“I am higher now.”
“My parents are dead now.”
“My parents are dead. Our spouses are dead. Even my poor brother is dead. Everyone who stood
between us is gone. Why can we not be together now?”
“My brother Henry still stands between us. Time stands between us. Nearly twenty years of
heartbreak stands between us.” (Knights Errant)
Of course, repetition should still be used sparingly at the right moment to add intensity to
dialogue. Conscious repetition is entirely different from overusing a word when a synonym
will do.
(All quotes from books by Barbara Jean Miller.)
Barbara Jean Miller is a multi-published author of romance, suspense, adventure, and children’s books.
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JOY E. HELD is a busy author, educator, editor, book coach, entrepreneur, and literary citizen responsible for this site and its contents. She is the author of
Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2020)
Writer Wellness Workbook: A Guided Workbook and Journal to Accompany Writer Wellness: A Writer’s Path to Health and Creativity (Headline Books, Inc., 2023)
The Mermaid Riot (Headline Books, Inc., 2026) Young Adult Historical Fantasy
Saving Marietta: Journey to Freedom (Headline Books, Inc., 2026) Adult Historical Romance
She is the winner of multiple writing and book awards:
West Virginia Writers, Inc. Annual Writing Contest, Honorable Mention, Novel, 1998.
New York Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Writer Wellness, 2020.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist, Writer Wellness, 2021.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, Member of the Year, 2020.
Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America, First Book Award, 2020.
She is a proud graduate of Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.
She is a member of The Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Joy is the founder and CEO of My WRITEDAY Subscription Box for writers and readers.
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