My daughter and I went to see the Nutcracker ballet on Sunday afternoon.
The ballet was amazing. The Tchaikovsky music was beautiful and the dancers were so graceful. It was easy to get swept away by it.
But…during the Dance of the Snowflakes, one of the snowflakes was decidedly off.
The snowflake seemed to have a very bad cold. Maybe swine flu? She was remarkably out of breath during her leaps. Her movements didn’t match the other snowflakes on stage. Her pace was all off—completely understandable if you’re sick—but it took me right out of the Nutcracker and into Mama mode (“Poor thing! Why is she up there being a snowflake? She should be in bed!”)
Pace is also important in books. We have to time things just right so we’re not flying too fast through important information (forcing them to reread a passage later) or boring them with too slow a pace.
As a reader, a slow pace can lose my attention. I’ve read beginnings that dragged. I’ve read dialogue that went on far past the point of accomplishing its purpose and into desultory rambling.
I’ve read scenes that were supposed to be fast-paced that had way too much description: “The murderer’s eyes were a steel-blue. He seemed devoid of all humanity. You could look into his eyes and see no empathy present. He looked intently…” Bleh. Most action scenes need action. They need a faster pace, choppier sentences…verbs.
Sometimes authors seem to be just throwing everything at me at once—there’s too much data and it’s clogging up the works. I have to actually go back and re-read—they didn’t pace out the delivery of the information well.
Sometimes, I feel like I need a breather in a book. Do you know what I mean? Maybe there have been a couple of really intense chapters in a row—you’re caught up in the depiction of a tragic death. Or maybe there has just been unrelenting tension in a thriller. You just feel like you need a break. Humor might be difficult to infuse in those situations, but I’d like to see just some sort of down time to catch my breath. Obviously…it can’t be too much of a break because then the pace will be too slow again.
I usually read for pace during one of my revision readings. Reading out loud helps give a sense of the speed of the scene. This is when I’ve realized bits of dialogue have dragged or that I needed to cut out short scenes that I liked, but that only served to slow down the plot and general pace of the story.
How do you set pace?
Elizabeth – The Nutcracker Suite was the first ballet I attended; it was my 12th birthday present. I still love the story.
You make some well-taken points about the pace of stories. There’s such a delicate balance between a fast enough pace to keep the reader’s attention, and a slow enough pace so that the reader doesn’t feel too rushed and the characters can develop. I think most well-written books have some very fast-paced scenes and some slower ones. I set the pace by reading what I’ve written and trying to imagine myself as the reader. Do I feel rushed? Satisfied? Bored? I also pay attention to how others set the pace and learn from that.
Pace terrifies me. It’s so subjective. I’ve read thrillers where the action scenes are really drawn out, and many books on writing hold them up as examples. I think I’m like you–short attention span. I want stuff to happen. Now! Breathers are essential too. During the writing, I think of it like a symphony and trust my instincts. However, I’m not naturally talented when it comes to music (tone deaf) so I also rely on others. Reading aloud (to someone who isn’t as close to the work as I am) is a big help for guaging the flow.
Some good points. I’m terrible at judging pace which is why I’m glad my friends are good at telling me when they’ve had enough of a scene or they thing something needs to be expanded. The test audience is really the only way for me to know how pace is going.
I THINK I just fixed a problem with pacing, I THINK. One thing I’ve noticed, is that my mood or state of mind can affect how I feel about what I’m reading. Have you ever noticed that? So, I keep that in mind when I am editing myself, and I rely on editors to help me before I axe something that maybe I thought was working but now think isn’t. We, as writers, must be careful not to be too hard on our work.
You are so right, Elizabeth. Pacing is key, especially for mysteries and thrillers. And you’ve alluded to some methods. I find that shorter sentences and brisker dialogue helps to increase the pace, along with streamlined descriptions (adjectives? we don’t need no stinkin adjectives!).
Then, throw in a long, breathless sentence in there–that helps, too.
Pace can be a prevention of burn out. And we could use this lesson for life in general.
I love your advice and points today. I am using today to think about them and see how I can apply.
The way I pace is to “make myself” step back from my writing and breathe. My personality is to charge ahead -no matter what.
First,thanks a lot for following me ang giving these points.
As a nonnative speaker I am writing in English and it is really hard sometimes. I am reading loud, but the sentences that seem perfect while writing sounds very odd when reading and I am giving up the story with disappointment…
First, love the Nutcracker! I think it’s time I go see it again!
It’s funny you should mention pace as this is one of my greatest issues with one of my manuscripts I’m trying to revise now. Sluggish beginning, you know? Too much going on, and it takes for ever to get to the heart of the story. So, I’ll be cutting out what are really great chapters (well, at least to me) and bump a huge storyline just to improve pacing.
Gosh, I’m feeling so in sync with you! Great post!
Reading out loud definitely helps because then you can hear all the beats. That’s my best technique too!
I love The Nutcracker, but won’t see it this year.
Pacing is something I always worry about. I can usually tell when it’s off, but I often don’t know exactly what to do to fix it. So I tinker. When this happens, it usually takes a few tries before I hit on the answer. If I don’t stumble when I go through on the next draft, I figure it’s OK.
How do I …?
Not sure I have thought about pace that much so this post is a very useful reminder for me.
I think of it as closet cleaning. If a scene is just sitting there doing nothing but gathering dust, I tell myself it has to go no matter how well it’s written or how much I like it.
Many years my neighbor took her daughter and mine to see the Nutcracker Suite. When they returned home I asked how they liked it. The only response my neighbor’s daughter had was, “Boys shouldn’t wear tights.” Since then that’s the first thing I think of when I hear the Nutcracker Suite mentioned. It always makes me laugh.
I think the ability to “see” pace in one’s own work is a requisite skill of any writer. And a darn-near impossible one to master. Because it’s ‘good’ doesn’t mean it belongs on the page. Easy to say. Hard to cut.
“Night Without End” by Alistair MacLean was too fast-paced, I think. There was never a breather.
I have read some on both sides…I felt “The DaVinci Code” could have slowed down a bit at times…”Angels&Demons,” too. But then Dan Brown would have had to write better! And develop characters! Oh no!
As much as I loved “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” I felt it has pacing problems. Too slow at times, needed to lose a few chapters.
I think I will worry about pace after the novel is through…Though I edit as I go…Ach, I don’t think I have a good answer for this.
I am the snowflake today.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Pace is tricky because it’s very individual; what one person finds rushed another person finds just right! I tend to use dialogue to increase my pace since I don’t have car chases or sprints down dark alleys.
Elspeth
A really important, topic, Elizabeth! Since I began writing, a year ago, I find that I’ve become a very impatient reader and will quickly put down a book that doesn’t pull me in really fast. In a way, that’s a shame because I’m probably missing a lot of fine stories these days. But I also feel like life is too short and if I’m reading it needs to be something that I can’t wait to get back to each night in my bed. Thank you for reminding me of these crucial pacing tips.
Pacing in a book is very important, you’re right. But, as you say, it’s also difficult to get right. People tend to think of pacing as a roller coaster, the ups and downs of the book, but pacing has to be looked at within individual scenes, too.
Helen
Straight From Hel
You’re bang on about the importance of pace in writing. Tough to get it right (but easier with practice and experience… I hope).
It does get annoying when you get data data data and loads of information. This can alsmot make me put a book down.
But if the action zips along to quickly (something I have been criticized for), then I wonder if people get overwhelmed.
I think genre has a lot to do with this… In crime fiction action and pace are key. But even within a given genre, there can be different expectations. A cozy, teapot murder mystery may not show the crime until page 97 but a hard-boiled whodunit will have the murder on page one.
I think that pacing has a lot to do with knowing who your (intended) audience is.
Cheers, Jill
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I agree it depends on the genre. I write literary fiction, so for me, relying on the character’s emotions/reactions is the way to go when offering a ‘breather.’ That might not be right for murder mysteries. :)
I remember when I first began, a crit group told me I needed more description, I needed to really place the reader in the scene. I couldn’t just lightly describe the college – I needed lots of details so readers would know exactly which college. (Or other location.)
And yet, when I read books that are just great reads, the description content is short.
Maybe some people just want their books like those deep, intellectual, Oscar-contending movies that come out at the end of the year. (You know – the slow, boring drama ones?)
Ultimately, I’ve worked on my descriptions to make every word count, but I’ve not made them any longer.
Good post on pace, I agree with all your comments. It is an important element in good writing and lots of authors don’t pay enough attention to it.
Marvin D Wilson
I also do a revision for pace. I read outloud. Often just snipping off the ends of a scene or eliminating beats makes a big difference for me in terms of picking up the pace.
When I see the need to slow it down, I often attempt to do that with character development oriented passages. A thought, a feeling, an eye-dropper full of backstory.
Thank you, Elizabeth. : )
When the Nutcracker come to mind, I don’t think about the dancers, I think about the wonderful music. I can hear it as I write this comment.
Pace. I don’t worry about it while I do the first draft. That is when I am just trying to get everything down on paper or on the computer. Pace plays an important role for me when I am revising. I have had to chuck whole chapters because they were too slow and boring.
Thanks for your posts today!
Another well written blog and approriate analogy. I liken pace to increasing or decreasing the speed of a motor cycle. The pace is smooth and seemlees when it escalates or slows down. I don’t have like four speeds, although I will abruptly shift gears on occassion.
Stephen Tremp
FABULOUS topic. I think my most helpful round of feedback on CONFLUENCE was when Mari pointed out my pacing issue at the end. I write a fair amount of dialog, which works through most of it because it is an organic way to get across the relationships, but at the end, when the situation is hazardous and the book is reaching its climax, it slows down the necessary spiral–it had to be summarized or dropped.
It was something I had never considered before that, and I believe really helped.
I think the same is absolutely true for description–if someone is being chased, they are NOT going to notice the cracks in paint or the decorations on the porch. (I snorted at your murderer description–SO TRUE!)
Reading out loud is key.
As I go through my first round of revisions, I am easily identifying slow places. To help with the pace, I’ve cut a lot of narrative out, and in some places replaced it with dialogue.
Margot–What a great present! I bet you were thrilled–it’s such a grown-up feeling to go to the ballet.
I agree that a mix of fast and slow probably works best for most stories.
Elizabeth–I think our mood as writers can play a big part in our writing, definitely. If I’m feeling lazy, I probably shouldn’t be writing a faster paced scene. Good point.
Lorel–I know what you mean. And it probably depends on the book, too. I’ve read some thrillers that had action sequences that moved in this really scared slow-mo…but it was done really well. I do usually like books that ‘get on with it,’ like you!
Cassandra–It’s great to have some friends who are good critiquers!
yağmur–I can’t even imagine writing in another language! Congratulations to you for doing it. I can imagine how different written English and spoken English can seem. Maybe put it down and come back to the project after a couple of weeks? Sometimes that can help, too.
Jane–Perfect! That’s exactly what it seems like to me, too! I love that analogy.
“Boys shouldn’t wear tights.” Too true! In this production, the Nutcracker and Mouse King were both girls, dressed as boys. Nicer aesthetically, maybe. :)
Helen–I think you’re right. Looking at the pace from scene to scene and within a scene is important, too. And then you have the transitions between scenes–are they choppy? Smooth? Even evident?
Jill–You’re so right. It makes my mind whirl when I have too much information to digest at once.
And great point about knowing your audience. A lit fic reader will be more patient with a slower paced book than a thriller reader.
Corra–Good point. I thought about adding a little bit to my post about genre differences. But then I thought, well, but it’s important not to be slow-paced for the *genre*. You’re so right about lit fic unfolding at a gentler pace. I think I would just make sure my book’s pace isn’t too far out of line with others in the genre.
Diane–You and I are on totally the same wavelength with that. I try to make sure my descriptive words aren’t empty…but I’m not going to wax poetic on my descriptions.
Alan–Verbs! We like our verbs in mysteries, don’t we? I like the breathless sentence, too. I was reading a blog post on that recently…apparently Shakespeare was the original behind that technique. Now you’re Shakespearesque!
Teresa–Great idea. Stepping back and trying to give yourself some distance from the manuscript is a great way to look at it objectively.
Marvin–Thanks! Adam Atom is always nicely paced. :)
Carolina–I have had to chuck out so many beginnings. Bleh. But faster seems to work better with beginnings (at least my editors seem to think so. :)) So we *are* in sync!
Stephen–Nice analogy. I like to change gears abruptly sometimes, too.
Kristen–And you catch so many things that way that can pass us by when we’re just reading it.
Carol–I do think it’s a tinkering type thing–no standard fix for it.
Dorte–Your short stories are always really nicely paced.
Terry–Oh definitely. “Kill our darlings.” Hard to do. I just promise myself I’ll include the cuts in another book. I haven’t read MacLean’s book. I probably won’t, now! Too fast-paced makes me feel breathless.
Michele–I agree with you on DaVinci. I remember reading and saying, “Whaa?” and going back to figure out what was going on. Which is annoying, even if the book is good. And lots of action. LOTS.
I’ve read “Dragon Tattoo”, too, and know where you’re coming from. I stuck with it through the slow parts because of the reviews…I knew a payoff was coming. But editing would have come in handy.
I hope you feel better! Don’t be on stage like the snowflake was..hot tea! Vicks VapoRub! (See, it takes absolutely nothing for the mommy in me to come out…)
Elspeth–Very tricky. And I’m an impatient reader. I think we should just look for a happy medium in there.
Bobbi, I feel the same way. I wonder about all the things I’m missing out on. But life is really short and we’re all so pressed. I do need something to grab me. And pacing is a big part of that.
Hart–I never thought about it that way before. But you’re absolutely right. In a really tense scene, should there be a lot of yakking between characters going on? Does that just jar us out of the struggle that’s going on? I do have a couple of talkative protagonists, so I’ll have to take a look at this more closely.
And, yeah, if my life was in danger, I’m even less likely to notice the scenery than I usually am! :)
Carolyn–That’s one of the best ways to speed up a scene or chapter. You can fit in sooo much information with dialogue.
Paul–That’s so true and something it took me a while to really understand. Sometimes by snipping off a scene a little early, it reads really cleverly where if it goes on and on, I feel like I’m overstating a point. And overstatement really makes things drag. Good ideas for slowing things down, too.
Michele–You’re welcome! :)
Same – I read aloud. I almost wrote “I read allowed”. Yikes – my typing brain is hammered.
Pace is everything! As someone who used to direct and be directed pacing was key. I want everything all the time in the books I read and I will forgive everything all the time if I’m in love with the characters. But I won’t forgive anything in a plot driven novel. Hmmm…
Cyn–Isn’t it wonderful? He really was a genius. I love “Sleeping Beauty,” too.
As far as revisions, I’ve had to do the same thing. But then it reads so much snappier afterward that I feel better about having to scrap the bits I liked.
Jan–I can only imagine your pacing requirements, since you were a director! It’s important, though. Otherwise we risk losing readers.
Pacing of delivery is what so many fantasy authors seem not to be able to do. Being thrust into a complex, unfamiliar world with a lot of new words and names etc can be very confusing, and I wish more authors took care to develop their story and characters as much as their world.