Pacing Isn't About Word Count

This week, my Daily Writing Craft Thought posts have been all about pacing for any story length.

It's easy to think that pacing depends on the length of your story. You would naturally think a flash fiction piece should move quickly, while a novel has more room to slow down? That is not necessarily the case. I've read flash fiction that felt as though it wandered for pages, and novels that seemed to fly by. Both of these scenarios, in themselves, are not bad by the way. I love a flash fiction that is 200 words but feels like so many more. I really feel I am getting my money’s worth, so to speak. There is a great skill the writer has used to manipulate us to feel that – and as long as it makes sense for the story, it’s fabulous. Same with novels… I do love a long, meandering novel, but I also love to feel breathless and as if I am on a rollercoaster to the end. The pacing you should use very much depends on the story and the feel you want to convey.

So basically, the feel of a story is nothing to do it the word count, and everything to do with pacing.

Good pacing is about keeping the reader engaged. Every scene should offer something new: a question, a revelation, a decision, a shift in emotion, or a change in circumstance. If nothing changes, the story begins to stand still, no matter how beautifully it's written.

That doesn't mean every page needs dramatic action. Quiet scenes are often essential and can be some of the most affecting. They allow characters to reflect, relationships to deepen, and readers to catch their breath. But even quiet scenes need movement. Perhaps a character realises something. Perhaps a relationship subtly changes. Perhaps the reader is given a clue they didn't have before.

One useful question to ask during revision is: What changes because of this scene? If the answer is "nothing," it may be time to rethink its purpose.

Whether you're writing flash fiction, a short story, or a novel, pacing comes from progress. Keep giving the reader a reason to turn the page, and they'll happily follow wherever your story leads.

Tell me, do you find it harder to keep the pace moving in shorter stories or longer ones? Let me know in the comments, or post anything you like that is writing related. Just say HI!