Day Four
Yesterday was the Superbowl. Did you watch it?
Pacing is important to a book, because it represents the time occurring between the events happening in my story. Fast reads usually have a fast pace. Have you noticed how fast you read when you’re reading a scene full of action? It’s almost like your heart and mind races in tune with the words. Readers love moments like these, because it’s the same as having an adrenaline rush.
Yesterday, I told you about some of the things I’m mindful of while writing. I’m just realizing that there’s problem so many that if I wrote a book it will include plenty of chapters . But this blog is breaking down my writing process day by day and today I noticed my main concern was pacing.
Your story may have a slow groove when it comes to pace.
Or does it have a steady, galloping trot?
I try not to give slow, slow pacing, because the reader usually gets bored while waiting for something exciting to happen. I also don't want to give them this....
I don't know whether to watch this guy's face, arms or legs.
Having too much happening at once can make what's happening in my book confusing or my readers feeling like they're all over the place. I mean, it's possible to pull this off, but I would think you would have to be truly skilled in writing to pull it off. So keep in mind that too slow of a pace can bore readers and too much happening can make them wonder if they can keep up.
All writers have their own style. Don’t confuse style with flow. My style is like my personality, dependable day in and day out. I love action. It’s why I choose to write the many genres I write under. If I had to describe it in a way that can give you a visual, think of me as a magician. I’m standing in front of the crowd and I have five cups upside down on top of a table. Underneath one cup is a little white ball. I show the audience which cup I have placed the ball under, then I start moving the cups hoping to confuse the audience of where the white ball will end up. That image is mainly for this book, by the way. The white ball represents my plot. Which direction do I want the readers to go? Follow the cup hiding the white ball, but when I lift the cup they have their eyes on, the white ball is under it. I realize I’m doing that with my characters. Which ones in the family will the reader trust? Which ones will they think are the bad guys? Only when the white ball is revealed can the audience appreciate the excitement of this particular trick. Have you ever read a book and got so far into that you reach a particular chapter and you find a delicious twist in the plot. When I reach these moments, I think, “This author is a genius! How did they come up with such an idea?”
What if they didn’t? What if the voices whispered it into their ear?
Remember yesterday when I said I was learning more about the story? I’m also learning more about the plot, and the more I’m learning that lots can happen in this story, hopefully some of it the reader won’t see coming.
Today’s blog post will be short, but I hope you’re getting a lot out of what I’m sharing. The main thing to do is simply write to see where it is YOUR story will go. As the plot unfolds, you can always go back and make changes like I did with chapter two. Writing is exciting! That’s why I won’t be added more to today’s post. The voices are talking and I can’t slow them down. They have even already shared things that would happen later in the book. My objective is to fill in the blanks that would get me to that point and making it as riveting as I can for the reader.
Just a reminder for those of you that really want to write a book in 2018, you can do it! My book, Anyone Can Write, can help you, but if not my book there are plenty out there to help you get started.
