I've been told more than once by reviewers to lose words like "Just then" when transitioning from one event to another in my story. For example,
Joseph terminated the feed. “They’re insane! They just put the fate of humanity solely in the hands of Emperor Bastardus!”
Just then, an explosion rocked the prison. Everyone ran out of their cells and looked for the source. A siren began to wail.
I'm told a new paragraph is sufficient to serve as the transition, but I disagree. To me, a new paragraph is a continuation of one story event, whereas "Just then" is a more explicit break signalling a new event. Here it is without "Just then":
Joseph terminated the feed. “They’re insane! They just put the fate of humanity solely in the hands of Emperor Bastardus!”
An explosion rocked the prison. Everyone ran out of their cells and looked for the source. A siren began to wail.
How do others handle these transitions?
Thanks
Dirk