Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today I’m back with another round of tips for helping you pace your story.
5 Further Tips to Help with Pacing Your Story
1 Establish a Rhythm
Establishing a consistent rhythm throughout your narrative makes it easier for your readers to follow along and understand what is happening in the story more quickly. This creates an engaging reading experience as readers become more familiar with the pattern and flow of the narrative.
2 Keep it Unpredictable
Too much predictability can be dull, so it is crucial to maintain an element of surprise throughout your story by introducing unexpected twists and turns into the narrative arc. It will keep readers guessing and have them turning pages until the end of the book.
3 Not Everything Needs to Move Quickly
Not everything needs to move at speed; some scenes may require slower pacing than others, depending on the mood you want to establish! So don’t be afraid to slow down where necessary or even stop altogether if the story calls for it.
4 Introduce New Characters Sparingly
Introducing too many characters in a single scene can cause confusion for readers who are trying to remember everyone; instead, focus on introducing characters gradually throughout different parts of your narrative so that there is ample time for readers to familiarise themselves with each one before moving on to someone new.
5 Utilize Flashbacks
Flashbacks can provide further context for certain scenes or moments that might otherwise have been glossed over if not omitted altogether; this helps give readers insight into why certain characters act or think as they do, creating more depth within each character arc! Used sparingly, flashbacks can be great for slowing down an action-packed story, letting the reader catch their breath. Used too repeatedly, though, they can have the opposite effect, so use flashbacks cautiously.
As always, thanks so much for reading my words!
Until next time,
George
© 2023 GLT
Categories: scenes, Writing Tips
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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