Master Pacing in Writing - How fast should a story move?

Pacing is key to creating a pleasant reading experience for your audience. Macro and micro are two important types of pacing to balance as you write!

Check out Campfire:

#writingcommunity #authortube #writing #writingtips #writingadvice

//SOCIAL MEDIA//

//AFFILIATE LINKS//
A powerful spell checker and style editor that works wherever you do your writing!

Support local, independent bookstores (and Campfire Technology) by buying books on our Bookshop page.

//CREDITS//
Script and Host - Levi Johnson
Video Editor - Parker Brown
Script Editor and Executive Producer - Jackson Dickert

//VIDEO CHAPTERS//
00:00 - Introduction
00:19 - Pacing
01:33 - Macro Pacing
02:30 - Subplots
03:31 - Cliffhangers
04:35 - Subplots (but the bad kind)
06:00 - Micro Pacing
06:36 - Sentence Length
07:35 - Dialogue

[LindCreations]

I remember the first time I realised how important it is to give your readers a break. About 10 years ago, I was writing an action/adventure fanwork. That year I had written a Christmas special, where the characters were just literally just sitting around chatting and reminiscing about their past adventures. One of my readers commented how it was really refreshing to have the focus shift from action and fighting to the characters just being people and chilling.

[PNWAffliction]

Can we get one on how to write non-cringe romance situations?
"fade to black" only works for so long when something story-wise needs to happen mid romantic situation. ;/

[mythexanime]

Man just paced the entire episode. Epic.

[GrizzlyBrwn]

So glad your software is one-time purchase, unlike Adobe software

[addictedtochocolate]

5:17 "Perry Hotter"

Killed me.

[aix]

Fantastic video! Yes, I noticed some books have a flawless reading experience and some just seem strangled despite having plenty of things happening but I never realized it's the micropacing. I wish you did an extra video to deconstruct the technique. It would be so amazingly useful.

[mitsouparker]

Loved the video! Your comment about the LOTR movie's pacing is absolutely valid. Nowadays we're so much more used to quicker paced stories and films, unlike back when Tolkien wrote his book, it needed adjustment for a modern-day film. Although I think every fan wouldn't mind a longer version, in general, they made necessary choices. I really don't like it when people hold the book up as an example for fantasy literature in the conversation of 'How to write a book...'. It is a classic and it is wonderful, but it is not suited as an example for fantasy novels that people write today.

[jacktallis]

I was a little concerned after Re-reading the start of my novel today but after listening to your advice I think I may be more on the right lines than I first thought! Great video man you have earned a new subscriber

[mischarowe]

I haven't been this early into a channel's up-tick of activity (and growth) in a long time. I've watched all your other videos and am on the edge of my seat for more.

[kylaolivier]

My favorite writer, Brandon Sanderson, uses great pacing to keep the momentum going in a very exciting and comfortable way.

[KatieBerryBooks]

For those writers that have released a book, I believe their readers are just as important as other writers. Pay attention to the reviews your book is getting, especially what they praise and what they disparage. Look for the trends, kill the bad prose and nurture the good. :-)

[danyramos]

I find it funny how now many writers are extremely focused on pacing or on the readers attention, while it has only existed as a concept for less than a 150 years. Seriously. Do you know why so many classical literature is hard to read? Because they had NO pacing, they just did what they wanted! And people still read their books! And we still have them as part of the literary canon! That’s why Tolkien, in the 20th Century, had his books be slow; he wanted it. What I mean is, pacing IS important, don’t get me wrong, but if you write a good story, people will stay for it.

[amouramarie]

Ooooh, I recognize that method of switching chapter-by-chapter from main plot to subplot and I *HATE* it so much. Rather than keep me engaged, it just keeps me _enraged_ at the end of every single chapter. I think the reason is because wayyy too many authors use this method as a way to have cliffhangers every freaking chapter. This just leaves the reader feeling that _nothing is ever resolved._ There is no downtime, no time to breathe. The author ends up so concerned with "reader retention" that it's like they're injecting you with adrenaline at the end of every chapter, then leaving you chained to a chair to wait until that plot comes back two chapters from now. That's not an enjoyable reading experience and I will viciously blacklist that author in the future.

[Angel-ippw]

I have a story thats starts out with 3 main characters that later branch out into 3 separate plots exploring the world each revealing things in the other plots the other 2 characters aren’t aware of then at some points the plots and characters come back to together 2 at a time. I think it should be easier for me because I usually suck at pacing and write everything way too fast or way too slow.

[m.talmagemoorehead]

Insightful video! And balls-out honesty regarding Tolkien. You've earned some respect, dude.

[TheVioletWolf]

G.R.R. Martin focuses on multiple stories at once without making it feel like its dragging along.

Also, if dialogue is needed, making sure it reveals something about the characters, their dynamics, or the plot (and/or moves it forward) keeps the pace up.

[bossgbini]

Jim Butcher's pacing is crazy good.

[kylaolivier]

Great information! Easy to follow and good advice. You have me as your new subscriber! I recently received Campfire as a gift, and I am so excited to use it. Thank you for this Gem of software.

[PhoenixCrown]

Brent Weeks. Especially fight scenes. He. Does it. Right. As I review my first novel, I find a lot of places where I wrote a proper and complete sentences where I really didn't want to. I follow convention (word count, chapter length, other grammar) because I'm afraid it will reflect on me as an amateur. Fine--I am. But Mr. Weeks' effective use of incomplete sentences convinced me to use them. When they work.

[mrs.bonnieshockey]

I am so impressed that you have Rothfuss as your example. Well done! Shall Kvothe ever be on paper again? Sigh.