The Secret Weapon of Bestsellers: Level Up Your Pacing

Writers With Wrinkles

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What is Pacing?

• More about rhythm than speed
• Reader engagement is key - avoid sections that feel like a slog
• Different genres have different pacing expectations (e.g., thrillers vs. literary fiction)

Crafting Pacing

• Sentence Length: Short = fast, Long = slow
• Active Voice & Description: "Show, don't tell" keeps things moving
• Paragraph Length: Vary length and break up long blocks of text
• Formatting: Use sparingly - long quotes, italics, footnotes
• Series Writing: Consider ongoing elements that won't become burdensome
• Information Reveal: Control the flow of information for suspense
• Chapter Endings: Cliffhangers or unresolved conflicts keep readers hooked
• Dialogue: Natural delivery to reveal character and advance plot
  • Vary length for pacing: short = tension, long = build relationships

Improving Pacing

• Self-Review: Re-read your work - identify boring sections
• Revision: Experiment and refine pacing - big edits are OK
• Read & Watch: Learn from your genre & films - analyze pacing techniques
• Comparative Analysis: Compare your pacing to published works (page-by-page)
• Cheat Sheet: Check out the podcast's resource for key pacing tips

Remember:

• Pacing is an iterative process that improves with practice and revision.
• Keep reading, experimenting, and revising to master pacing in your writing.

Bonus:

• Support the podcast and explore their resources for more writing advice!

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