The pace of your plot is a key element to grabbing and keeping your reader’s attention. You need to find the perfect balance between going slowly enough that your reader can follow along and doesn’t get lost, but also quickly enough that they don’t grow bored either. You will need to slow down in some scenes and speed up in others. But how do you know when to do this, and how exactly do you execute it properly?

If you’re having trouble figuring out the correct pacing of your manuscript to keep your audience glued to the page, here are a few tips that might help. You can also check out this video on Reedsy (approximately 1 hour) where editor Anna Bierhaus discusses this same concept and breaks the element of pacing down into four main points.

Determine a Central Conflict

Get your readers invested in the characters by showing their vulnerabilities and making them relatable. This will cause the reader to want to see the best outcome for them, especially when they fall into conflict, which is essential to drive the story forward. It’s important to set up the conflict early on—what does the character want that they can’t have? (Hint: this also works well with your villain if you want to create a deeper story for them.)

Raise the Stakes

What will the character lose if they don’t get what they want? Remember to raise the stakes in some way as the story progresses and you build to the climax. It could be a ticking clock (they have to find the cure by midnight or else they’re stuck that way forever), increased danger (now there are two monsters after them and they’re running toward a cliff with nowhere else to go), or maybe they do get what they want but are actually worse off for it (they got the man of their dreams only to realize he’s a self-centered snob). Whatever the stakes, let the reader feel the tension as they’re increased and things seem to only be getting worse. (Gasp! What will they do to get out of this situation?)

Create Solid Scenes

Be cautious of filler, which does not serve a greater purpose for the story and instead only serves to increase your word count. These are the parts of the story where you will lose your readers. They will either feel misled (Wait, you introduced the barista in depth only to drop them completely out of the story?) or they will feel bored (Ugh! What is the point of this scene? Move on already!).

In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the story.” You want to make sure your story is always moving forward. It can be difficult to cut things you’ve worked so hard on, but killing your darlings doesn’t have to be so painful if you reframe it. I highly recommend creating a “Maybe” doc where you can save any filler excerpts. In this manner, you aren’t simply pressing delete and sending it into oblivion, but merely setting it aside for a future project. As a bonus, these excerpts might even help to inspire a new book idea when you browse them later on.

Using foreshadow is another great tool, but make sure to follow through with it so as not to leave your reader confused or disappointed. And remember, just like at any good party, you want to arrive late and leave early. In other words, jump right into the action at the beginning of the scene, and be sure to leave before it fizzles out and dissolves into mundane activities or dialogue.

Build to a Climax

As you near the end of your book, you need to have a climax in which the ultimate conflict comes to a head. During this part, your main character should have a flaw that gets tested (think misplaced trust or maybe they’re unlucky or shy; check out this extensive list of 123 Ideas for Character Flaws). Raise both the internal and external conflicts to build tension and a greater sense of fulfillment once it’s resolved. One device you could use to help achieve this and create contrast is the calm before the storm. Keep in mind that longer sentences will slow the pace, while shorter sentences and dialogue can create a sense of urgency.

Quick Tips for Slowing the Pace

• Lengthen your sentences
• Add descriptions (stop and smell the roses!)
• Include subplots
• Add more introspection (this also helps to develop character)
• Use flashbacks

Quick Tips for Increasing the Pace

• Shorten your sentences (and maybe your chapters too)
• Use dialogue
• Limit (or remove) subplots
• Use cliffhangers (keep your reader wanting to turn the page)
• Increase the action (a battle or chase scene or anything else that increases the sense of urgency)

A Final Word of Caution

Whatever you do, just make sure you are heeding Kurt Vonnegut’s advice. A quick pace will certainly keep your reader’s attention, but don’t assume that good pacing means every page of your book has to be fast-paced. There are definitely moments where slower is better, where your reader may need a bit more description, backstory, or a breather from the action. Don’t forget, though, even when you are trying to slow the pace, every sentence must serve a purpose.

Need Further Guidance?

This is one task your developmental editor specializes in. Your editor can help guide you on enhancing the pacing of your book by pointing out where it needs to speed up and where it needs to slow down (and offer suggestions for how to achieve this). Your developmental editor will help you find that perfect balance to optimize your pacing.

Think you’re ready to take that step and hire an editor? Contact Me so we can discuss getting your book on my calendar!

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Red Quill Editorial LLC

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