A paragraph can be grammatically tidy and still feel flat. Reading it aloud may reveal that every sentence starts the same way, lands on a weak word or asks you to hold too much before reaching the point.
Mark the pattern, not your performance
Read at a comfortable pace and place a pencil mark where you stumble. Do not assume every stumble proves bad writing; unfamiliar words and the way you are reading also matter. Look for repeated trouble at the same place.
Underline the opening words of each sentence. If four begin “She then”, decide whether that repetition serves the passage or merely reflects the order in which you drafted it.
Move emphasis with a small revision
Compare these invented lines: “He found the key after searching the room.” “After searching the room, he found the key.” The information is similar, but the route to the final phrase changes.
Try one revision and read the surrounding paragraph again. A short sentence can provide a useful stop; several short sentences can create a different pattern altogether.
Keep the intended meaning
Do not shorten a sentence so aggressively that a necessary qualification disappears. Rhythm should support clarity rather than replace it.
Pair this pass with checking paragraph breaks. Sentence shape and paragraph shape work together, and neither needs to follow a mechanical long-short formula.