Each of us writes at our own pace. Part of the fun of the writing journey is discovering what works for us individually.
I have a certain core way I write things, but I've found it also zigs and zags with each book, to take into account those characters' needs, as well as the requirements of that particular story. We're all heading for "The End", but there are a zillion ways to reach that destination.
To make things even more challenging, sometimes the writing process seems to have some artificial intelligence built in. The smarter WE get about the whole thing, the more it appears to adapt, making it difficult to keep pace with it.
Which naturally leads to a discussion of pacing in our stories. Or maybe it's a complete non sequitur.
Still, a great suggestion for controlling pacing in your story is "Enter Late, Leave Early". Robert Gregory Browne says on his blog, Casting the Bones, that this is an old screenwriting trick:
"When writing a scene, rather than start at the 'beginning', try entering the scene late -- coming in after events are already in motion. Then make sure you get out of there before said events have concluded."
I could swear on the lives of my characters that I read in his post to think of your scene as a party. I've re-read his post several times and don't see that analogy anywhere. I've Googled and Binged and torn my Favorites folder apart in a vain attempt to find a post that mentions this, because I don't want to take credit away from anyone. So if anyone sees that post, or you are the author of it, please let me know so I can attribute it correctly.
However, we may have to accept the very real possibility that I am blindingly brilliant. (We'll also have to admit I am incapable of remembering if I thought up something so freaking smart.)
Okay, I'm slowing down the pacing on our discussion about pacing. . .
You want your characters to arrive "fashionably late". They won't have to endure that tedious, self-conscious chit chat that occurs before the party really gets going. Nobody likes that, especially readers.
Your characters should enter the scene like James or Jane Bond, suave and debonair and the focus of everyone's attention. The background party noise diminishes because we all want to hear what THEY have to say. It won't be small talk. It'll be something important, worth listening to.
Worth turning pages quickly.
And like the most sought-after guests, they should leave long before the other partygoers. Your characters won't dawdle and linger until the bitter end, looking for their coats and keys while the hosts try to hide their yawns. No, they'll leave when the party is in full swing, leaving everyone to wonder, "What's going to happen next?"
They'll be on to the next scene, intriguing everyone and leaving before they can start to bore anyone. As Mr. Browne says, "Get in, make your point, then get the hell out."
That's good advice for anyone to follow.
Excellent points. I love that quote. Interestingly enough, to keep my pace when I write, I have to stop writing while I still know what happens next. I keep my momentum that way - and so does the story.
Posted by: Kari Marie White | September 19, 2011 at 08:58 PM
Kari Marie, I like the idea of stopping your writing while you still know what happens next. I might give that a try -- it sounds like it would make it easier to start back up the next time. Which would reduce the procrastination too!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | September 19, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Good ideas! I'd not heard of the party analogy before, but it sure explains the page turners. I also hadn't considered the "stop writing while you still know what's going to happen" trick to be an aid to pacing, but it makes total sense. Great post and comments!
Posted by: Mary Elizabeth | September 20, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Mary Elizabeth, thanks for the compliments on my post. I try to keep the party thing in mind while writing my stories, and I can't wait to use the "stop writing" suggestion next time I open the manuscript. Thanks for stopping by!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | September 20, 2011 at 02:32 PM
It is a great technique to capture the reader's interest early on.
I'm reading a SciFi now where in the first chapter the hero wakes up to find himself shackled to a bed in a sinister hospital and having no memory of how he got there.
He escapes and the author spends the next few chapters allowing his hero to recover pieces of memory to reveal the horror of his true situation.
It all expands into a ten book series (Chronicles of Amber) and I'm on book 2 now, but the pace and my interest is starting to ebb, so there had better be some new boosters soon to keep me reading!
This is sort of a party within a party which may also be within a larger party still.
I think I see glimpses that the global party is starting to bore me though.
Like you said Donna, best to keep it simple. Make your point without too many complications and get out. LOL
Posted by: Quantum | September 21, 2011 at 06:56 AM
Q, it sounds like a great setup for a story. But I agree with your "party within a party" analogy -- it may be dragging on too long. LOL
Sometimes I think writers can forget that readers' brains move fast, so we give more detail than is necessary, thinking we won't be clear otherwise. But then it can bog down the story, and readers will get bored. So it's best to keep the reader guessing, and excited, about what's next.
I'll have to make sure I do that now!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | September 21, 2011 at 09:10 AM