Pacing
I knew someone whose manuscript was rejected because of uneven pacing. It was the first time I'd heard of such a thing, and boy did it scare me.
Thinking about pacing, for me, is like thinking about calculus or trying to get home from the Orlando airport. I get lost. Easily. Frequently.
But I've managed to glean a few tidbits about pacing from different places (and since it's been a while I don't know who to thank--sorry!).
1. Pacing should slow when there's tension. I take that to mean we want the moment to stretch out wire-taut.
2. Pacing can be linked to conflict issues. So if your middle is sagging, your pacing might be off.
3. Pacing is the rhythm of the novel. Check out this excellent article by bestselling author Vicki Hinze.
What have you heard about pacing? How's the pacing in your manuscript? Your life? *grin*
Any good advice to share?
Thinking about pacing, for me, is like thinking about calculus or trying to get home from the Orlando airport. I get lost. Easily. Frequently.
But I've managed to glean a few tidbits about pacing from different places (and since it's been a while I don't know who to thank--sorry!).
1. Pacing should slow when there's tension. I take that to mean we want the moment to stretch out wire-taut.
2. Pacing can be linked to conflict issues. So if your middle is sagging, your pacing might be off.
3. Pacing is the rhythm of the novel. Check out this excellent article by bestselling author Vicki Hinze.
What have you heard about pacing? How's the pacing in your manuscript? Your life? *grin*
Any good advice to share?
Comments
Easy reading = good writing, hey?!
Tabitha,
You're so right. It's like housework. The noticeable things are the things that didn't get done. The hard work is almost unnoticeable. LOL
Diane,
So been there. Good luck. A little bite at a time, that's the way to eat the bear. :-)
Thanks!
I've heard that before and really love that advice, but I never thought of relating it to pacing. Good point!
LOL Anita,
I know, applying the information is the hardest part.
This helps- I am going to check out the article now.
Happy writing!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by. :-)
I just discovered that I've been following your blog wrong all this time so I haven't been getting your updates on my reading list. So now that I have it fixed I'm about to become a regular reader!
I have trouble with pacing during action scenes. I try to rush through just when I should be slowing down. My only trick is to read through it and revise about 100 times until it flows okay (this is not a very time effective trick).
~ Wendy
This still challenges me, particularly for other genres. I like your tips, I'm going to keep those in mind.
smooches,
Larie
Great tips though.
But you did ask about pacing in personal life. Now I can write a book about that! LOL! My life can either be slow and lazy or in a moment turn to fast forward in the crazy lane. I probably should take some of those experiences and incorporate them into my stories.
I dislike very much going to and from any airport. I can't imagine Orlando.
I never really got it. Then I talked with an agent and she cited my pacing. Again.
That was it.
I borrowed some books and read about pacing. I think (think, THINK) I finally understand it. And hopefully, I was able to apply it to my revisions.
But basically, there's two parts to pacing: in the writing and in the plot. Stuff has to happen. And you have to convey it in a way that people can read it. Fast = short sentences. Lots going on. Slow = longer sentences. More reflection.
At least, that's how I understand it. And I'm probably wrong. And will be rejected again because of the pacing.
Le sigh.
Hi Natalie, thanks for commenting! No worries about the revisions. I do it a hundred times too, in a thousand different ways. It's all part of making our stuff great, right? :-) And it takes a TON of time. But hopefully in the end it's worth it. :-)
LOL Kristen! I'm like you. I don't like drama, I don't like to rush (unless I'm doing chores *snort*) but we have to create conflict in our stories and even keep things going fast for our characters. Challenging stuff, but fun. :-)
Balance. Yep, it is about that, although I have heard that the ending should pick up. I'll admit my manuscripts might be a little unbalanced. I think the second half of my books go faster than the first, and I'm not sure why... and I'm also not sure it's a good thing.
Wendy, between your comments and another blogger's (and I'm bad because I can't remember who) I'm definitely going to have to check that book out!
That's true about suspense, Cindy. I always wonder how someone who writes women's fiction handles pacing. I guess no matter what genre we're in, it's important to keep tension and conflicts high? We do need a chance to breathe though. I don't think I knew you wrote a trilogy! Very cool. :-)
Hi Julie, well, it depends. The detailed descriptions are good, you just have to put them in the right place. In the wrong place, they're boring. In the right place, the descriptions/narrative can heighten the tension. Sorry about the boring book. I've read my share. Probably have written them too. LOL
Eeek! Poor you Candee! I definitely hope you can make a switch there. :-) Work that tension out onto the page. LOL And I hope your life slows down. We all need down time or we'll explode.
Nancy, the sad thing is that I get lost every time. It's so frustrating to me and I feel like the biggest idiot in the world. Even with mapquest I take the wrong turn. Grrrr. I'm glad I'm not the only who doesn't like it.
Wow, Elana. Thank you for sharing that. It stinks bad but you were smart to look it up and see what it means. I don't altogether get it either. It really is like math, I can look at the equation and know it works, but I don't understand why. I hope you've got it fixed with your revisions!
And thank you so much for sharing that it's two parts; plot and writing. I didn't even think about that.
I wish there was some meter or grid or something we could lay our novels on to see if we're keeping the pace right.
Wait, I'll bet Randy I. could do it!
Writing is mostly an unconscious thing for me, so I'm not sure how I pace, but that's not something that's ever some up in crits, so hopefully my pacing is good. :$ Now my life, on the other hand, is stuck on fast forward. If only I could go at the same speed. >.<
Maybe you need to bake some cookies??? :-)
My life stays paced most days, then it gets discombobulated and I try to get out of those scenes as fast as possible.
I've heard of slowing the pace to add foreboding, though. And I love it when I can feel it in the story and know that I'm reading slower because I'm not sure I want to know what's coming.
A few well-placed thoughts in the dialogue keep the pages turning, whereas lengthy ruminations bring the whole thing to a screeching halt.
Jayda, you should go with your good sense. :-) I completely agree. Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Thanks for the link. I've put it in my Favorites so I can read it again.
Pacing is one of those subjects I have to absorb over a period of time. I think by reading good novels, we can see the patterns.
One novel sitting by my chair has so much action that it exhausts me. I can only read a few pages at a time. It's good, but emotionally taxing.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I see what you mean and went and reread my notes. I think the author who shared that meant that sometimes when there's high tension, the scene should be drawn out to lengthen the tension. The example used was someone making a choice. There the pace would be slower as the person deliberated, and then once the choice is made, the pace speeds up.
Since I write romance, the first thing I thought of was a kiss. I think a good kiss should be at least a paragraph. :-) Things slow down and the character smells, hears and feels things more intensely.
That's how I took it, but I get your point too. :-)
And this is exactly why pacing feels so tricky to me. LOL
Jill, I agree. Too much thinking takes us right out of the action. Better to use a single sentence and make it super strong and able to convey the character's feelings at the moment.
Genny, I'm in the throes of revisions too. LOL! Thank you for stopping over.
I'm not a pacer, but my husband is. :-)I wrote a pacing character too. Fun stuff there. Heehee!
Hi Susan, that author's written a whole bunch of great articles too. Too much action??? That's interesting. Is it physical action or emotional?
Too much backstory can slow your pacing. Too much description can slow pace. Scenes that don't move your story forward can slow pacing, too.
Never really considered it in terms of writing.
But now that you mention it, I can totally understand what you're saying. The other night my daughter was reading and I asked her a question. "Not now, Mom, this is a really good part!"
I guess the pace was fast at that part of her story. *grin*
Yes, my blog opens next week! I got home from a trip last Friday and realized that November is almost here...yikes! :-)
could you email me, or check out my latest blog post. :-)
I've tried to email you but its getting returned, and facebook is down.
life is stressful when our technology lets us down!
brenda
Terri, I should read more on it too. LOL!
Cute story Karen! :-)
Sarah, instinctual isn't a word? I thought it was... LOL Yep, November is very close. :-)
Brenda, I'm heading over now.
Anyway, what I was confused about is that pacing is slower when in conflict to drag it out. But when I'm reading a scene chock full of conflict, yes I see how the wordage may appear to drag it out, but the actual words read like hot lava to me. The pace in those sections is rocket fast. I guess there are different perspectives of pacing. How long a scene is, opposed to how fast it reads.
You're right that there are different perspective. I wish there could just be a formula like math has. LOL
Now i know what pacing is, and...well, still I just write and hope for the best *laughing* - but, I am aware of it...in my 2nd novel, I am looking at my ending, at the pacing and timing of it - something may be off, so I know I need to tweak it.