Pacing

Question: I seem to have a really hard time pacing my stories because none of my scenes and chapters in between major plot points feels natural. Is there any way to make it feel more natural?


Answer: "Natural" can be a highly subjective term, but if it doesn't feel quite right to you, your instinct is probably right. (If someone else is telling you your pacing is off, make sure you have more than one opinion before you believe this.)

My suggestion: take another look at some of your favourite books that you feel have good pacing. Do a detailed analysis. Figure out what makes the pacing so good. Does it have to do with length of scenes? The balance of description vs. action? Changes in the emotional tone? Really look at the nitty gritty.

Then see if you can apply your insights to your own work. Do they tell you where you went wrong? Can you revise your work to incorporate what you have learned?

Doing it this way is more work than just having someone tell you what to do, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

Best of luck.

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