Repetition in writing : what is the balance?

Our fourth week of looking at Ursula Le Guin's book on writing Steering the craft.

How have you been going with the exercises?

I really like this chapter on repetition because it's something I wrestle with in my writing. I like thinking about rhythm and repetition but feel as though I sometimes overuse it. The sentence at the beginning of the chapter of Le Guin's book is perfect in my view

The sudden wind brought rain, a cold rain on a cold wind.

Nice!

And the contrast between repetition and searching for a synonym that actually changes the style and tone of your writing.

Which do you prefer?

"She'd had enough cream, enough sugar, enough tea."

or

"She'd had enough cream, an ample sufficiency of sugar, and a plentitude of tea"

How would you describe the difference?

But obviously this kind of repetition doesn't work

"He was studying in his study. The book he was studying was Plato".

Obviously here other words are needed and careful thought.

Two exercises

1. Verbal repetition

Write a paragraph of 150 words that includes at least three repetitions of a noun, verb, or adjective.

2.Structural repetition

Write a short narrative in which something is said or done and then something is said or done that echoes or repeats it, perhaps in a different context, or by different people, or on a different scale.

As always let me know how you go!