It sounds elementary. It is elementary. It doesn’t mean we do it every time. Read your story out loud. Does it sound natural? If you are having problems with pacing or smooth reading, it might be because your sentences are too long. Shorten the sentences. Aim for 10 words or less in each phrase. That should make it easier for you to read the story well. And it should make it easier for your audience to understand it. Read it out loud!
Hat tip for this comes from Barbara Worth who conveyed these thoughts back in 1989 for an AP newsletter. I have saved it in a file ever since. It stands the test of time.