Pacing is key when writing a book. You want to ensure that whatever you're writing about, the story is able to keep readers hooked and turning pages. This is especially important in the first chapter or so, because this is where a reader will likely decide to keep reading, or to put the book down.
Inevitably, there will be some part in a book that readers will skim. There are certain things we can control to negate this from happening, but we have to know that there will be some things certain readers just won't be as interested in.
That's totally okay. As long as it's not the first chapter.
So here are some tips that I've found useful when gauging the pacing of my own books:
Understanding types of pacing.
Something to note is that there is macro-pacing and micro-pacing.
Macro-pacing is on the level of the story as a whole. What's the trajectory of the plot/character? How are the scenes laid out to keep the reader interested? If you drew a line denote high action, rising action, and slowing down, what shape would it make?
Micro-pacing is on the level of words, sentences, and paragraphs. Are any sentences too long? Is that word too clunky for that paragraph? Are there too many short sentence while describing this room?
Both macro-pacing and micro-pacing contribute to how the story reads. We have to look out for both while revising to keep the story moving.
Start with action.
This doesn't mean you have to start with a fight scene, or a robbery, or anything of the sort, but it should have tension. Is your character in the middle of being humiliated? Did they forget their lunch when they have an exam? Are they hanging from the edge of the building?
What are they experiencing, and why should we care about it?
Dropping readers into action immediately leaves them with many questions. And at the beginning, questions are good. Because questions will keep them reading to learn the answers.
It's best to avoid too much description here because this can slow the pace. We want to find the sweet spot that sets the scene and provides atmosphere/context without bogging down the hook.
Vary length.
The length of everything: sentences, paragraphs, sometimes chapters. Often, in action, shorter sentences are used. This can be because they're easier to read, they feel more punchy, and they get information across quickly.
When the action speeds up, so does the reading. Short sentences allow for ease of reading.
In contrast, slower scenes tend to use longer sentences more often. This is when description and emotion comes in. Longer sentences are useful when slowing pace to allow for a deep breath and looking around.
Balance.
This leads us into the next point which is to create a balance. Both action and reflection are important, and we need to have both so readers have the time to process what's happened, but also to keep the story moving forward.
A large action sequence is often followed by a slower scene and vice versa. Something that deals with the MC processing: facing an internal dilemma, having a conversation with another character, exploring the new space they've just found, or even contemplating how they got where they are and what they're to do next.
These ebbs and flows lead to a strong story with character development and plot development. It means that the story won't feel too rushed or too stagnant.
Revise for pacing.
Whatever method you use to write, you will also have to revise. For myself (I've talked about this before), I like to use the storyboarding technique to see what the story timeline looks like after draft 1 or 2. Storyboarding is writing out summaries of all the scenes/sequences in the story and pasting it to some kind of board. It allows me to see where the action is, when certain elements come into play, and if more foreshadowing is necessary. There are a lot of useful things I can see from laying the story out this way.
I've also heard a lot of my writer friends swear by Scrivener. Especially if you're someone who writes out of order, Scrivener could be a great option for you! This program allows for shuffling chapters and scenes (without cutting/pasting) and creating a virtual storyboard. If you're into having everything in one place, this is the program for you. (Personally, I like to write everything out with my hands vs. typing.)
Listen to it.
Whether this means reading it out loud yourself or using a text-to-speech program, hearing your story is a totally different experience. It brings to light little things that could be missed from simply reading it over and over again. It's especially helpful for micro-pacing. You can hear how things are coming across, whether or not it sounds natural.
Once again, these are simply things that I've found useful in my own writing. If they don't work for you, feel free to disregard!
Happy writing,
Erin