The Wattys Bootcamp Mentorship Program is back for 2023! Have you written a story that you plan to submit to the Wattys? If the answer is yes, you've come to the right place. This program helps you prepare your submission to make it the best it can...
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The sound came from outside the cabin. A snap, like that of a twig under a heavy boot. She stared at the curtain from her position in bed, waiting for a shadow to cross in front of the window, while her heart galloped inside her chest like a wild horse. Did she dare investigate? Did she have time to search for a weapon? Perhaps it was just a curious animal. Or perhaps they had found her hiding place.
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What is pacing?
- the speed at which a story progresses
Readers expect a story's pace to move quickly during moments of intense action, like when the villain is chasing the hero through a cornfield wielding a chainsaw. On the other hand, if a character is experiencing a moment of reflection about a lost love, or they are deciding whether to open the door to a stranger, the pacing of that scene should slow down, giving readers a chance to reflect with them.
Pacing that follows the mood of the story can enhance a reader's experience, luring them through the drama using a number of techniques, including scene structure and precisely chosen words.
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Pacing sets the mood
- Good pacing helps to convey the mood of a scene
Not only can pacing affect how a reader interprets a character's feelings, but the mood of a setting or event can be enhanced with thoughtful and deliberate pacing.
