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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30842
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30842
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I don't think this negatively affects story progression. It can even be a form of emphasis, that punches the reader.

Say Karen and Lyle have been married for ten years, with two children. Karen has had her tubes tied, they decided one boy and one girl was enough. Here's my scene: Karen gets a call on her phone, it is Mark, Lyle's co-worker. But it is Lyle on the phone; he can't find his phone, he thinks he left it on the dresser recharging, could she check? She sees no phone. Did he try calling it? Yes, straight to mail. Its probably out of battery. After the call, Karen thinks to check his other suits. She doesn't recall what he wore yesterday, something light. As she is checking, she finds in his gray striped jacket a newly opened packet of condoms.

Hm. That's very interesting, in an enraging sort of way. She and Lyle did not use condoms. **_Ever!_**

My point is: How many pages should I stretch this out? Two may be enough. And a chapter break gives the reader time to believe Karen is stewing for hours deciding what to do next, whether to confront or follow Lyle, etc, some of which would be setup in those pages. Then if the chapter changes to some other character, our dear reader cannot **wait** to see what happens when Lyle next meets Karen.

Original score: 1