tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post85634150723657954..comments2023-08-15T04:19:14.114-05:00Comments on Word Wanderings: Pacing in a NutshellAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-74648927223232278632010-03-04T12:34:37.448-06:002010-03-04T12:34:37.448-06:00Hi, Linda, and thanks for stopping by!
Thanks fo...Hi, Linda, and thanks for stopping by! <br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts. You hit on a good point. When I'm writing my first draft, while I'm aware of the general flow of the pacing, I'm mostly concerned about getting the story down. <br /><br />Rewriting/editing is definitely when I start focusing on how the novel's paced and cut scenes that are either too much or not enough. Case in point is on 'Homebody'. In my first few drafts, I had two chapters back to back that ended with my MC getting threatened--once with a phone call, once with a drive-by shooting. After much thought (of probably all of 5 minutes!) I decided that one of them had to go. <br /><br />By deleting that scene, it eliminated a lot of wasted words, and it simplified some of the story for me at that point, leaving me room for some additions that I just did this week.<br /><br />Best of luck on your writing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-41360139934785624832010-02-25T16:24:16.568-06:002010-02-25T16:24:16.568-06:00I usually just write what is going on in my mind n...I usually just write what is going on in my mind not focusing on the pace. Although, we I edit if it moves to slow I cut out a lot of the work.Linda Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18045374724773030938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-25339095896110416112010-02-24T13:17:58.714-06:002010-02-24T13:17:58.714-06:00Thanks for stopping in, newmaldon!
Striking a ba...Thanks for stopping in, newmaldon! <br /><br />Striking a balance can be so key, you just have to know your audience.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-16509226212690255902010-02-24T13:07:40.979-06:002010-02-24T13:07:40.979-06:00Breathing is good. Good for the head, good for the...Breathing is good. Good for the head, good for the heart! ;)<br /><br />Seriously, though, a balance between the extremes is important, though I tend to fall onto the slower side of things (one reason I appreciated the extended versions of the LOTR films). Especially in writing (or films) featuring real or imaginary exotic settings, slowing the pace up in places allows the audience a chance to soak in and enjoy the setting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-74909896012145274532010-02-22T15:08:04.340-06:002010-02-22T15:08:04.340-06:00Great point, Katie!Great point, Katie!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-79928272897774275142010-02-22T15:04:20.604-06:002010-02-22T15:04:20.604-06:00Haven't seen [i]Sherlock Holmes[/i] yet, but I...Haven't seen [i]Sherlock Holmes[/i] yet, but I have to say that, despite my avowed love of action flicks, I *adore* leisurely stories, esp. books, simply because they allow me to savor the details. That said, the type of pacing a story calls for depends very much on the story itself. Non-stop action wouldn't work for some stories, anymore than a leisurely pace would work for [i]24[/i]. But no matter the story, the key is to balance the intense scenes and the "sequel" scenes so that the reader is kept on his toes without being exhausted - or bored.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832782604769370695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-72236135751981982602010-02-22T10:05:08.939-06:002010-02-22T10:05:08.939-06:00I think it's natural for a writer to not pay t...I think it's natural for a writer to not pay too much attention to their own pacing, but for me, I notice it in movies and the books of others. Too slow a pace, I'm apt to not pick the book back up (or finish watching the movie). But, because I notice these things in other's work, they do come in handy when I'm editing.<br /><br />In the last draft of <i>Homebody</i>, I took out a scene where Amanda's threatened--because it happened too close to another scene where she was also threatened. I had to pick which one was most important--and which one had the fewest complications. It was an easy decision, and I think it was a good move on the part of the story.<br /><br />Now, if I can just get the darn thing done and into the hands of an agent... *sigh* I'm *so* ready to have it done!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-90247393210359304332010-02-22T10:00:03.999-06:002010-02-22T10:00:03.999-06:00Actually, Liberty, I really don't know how to ...Actually, Liberty, I really don't know how to judge the pacing of my stories. I just write a story as it comes to me, without planning for the arc or mini-climaxes...whatever happens just happens. <br /><br />During edits and rewrites, I do sometimes weave in subplots, but even then, I'm not sure how the pacing is affected.<br /><br />Oh, well.<br /><br />TLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com