SWRT 213 | Pacing Your Novel

July 15, 2021

person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Robert, & Kathryn talk pacing. Isn’t it about word count and how quickly readers turn the pages? You know, that old chestnut, the Beach Read? It’s about the need to know what’s coming next, the reader’s desire to keep being drawn into and through the story. But it’s also about the ebb and flow of action, not an overall speed, but a rhythm that allows for ups and downs, quick and slow movements. Make the pace of your story organic to your character’s experience. Do not think of pace in terms of speed, but in terms of the reader’s experience of your story.

Enjoy this unpacking of this seemingly simple topic, pacing, and join the conversation at our Story Works Writers Facebook group.

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

What makes a story well-paced? (0:45)

Take a rest. (3:05)

Is pacing interior to the story or exterior? (7:05)

The concept of well-paced. (8:00)

How does this work with they physical structure of the novel? (11:10)

Keep things moving, changing, rising and falling. (13:15)

The issue of redundancy. (18:20)

Use surprise! (21:33)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Things we mentioned:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Want more about these topics? Check out:

SWRT 024 Twists
SWRT 11 Pacing

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.

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About Your Hosts

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com

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