Pacing

Feb 16, 2007 11:05

Pacing a story. Tips? What should I be keeping in mind as I write?

question, pacing

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Comments 7

aldecoary February 16 2007, 18:16:39 UTC
Not too fast and not too slow. Just right. =)

No, truly, it varies story to story. Keep in mind the climax, often, should be given the largest emphasis. Most of the stories I have been reading could do well to extend the climax and "milk it for all it's worth." But there comes a time when it obviously has been dwelt on far too long.

Balance, as usual.

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garowyn February 16 2007, 23:24:59 UTC
I'll try.

*nods* (Are you referring to my stories?)

Which'll take some time to find. Anyway, thanks!

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aldecoary February 17 2007, 00:26:58 UTC
To, my classmates' stories, which are ever on my mind because I always have to be reading them.

*nods* It often is through experimentation, trial-and-error, and such that you discover what works best. Well, for me, anyway.

Love the icon! May steal it...

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garowyn February 17 2007, 19:25:16 UTC
All right. I started rewriting my contest stories (which is easier since I don't have a limit to follow anymore), and I'm finding that I could've done this or that. I thought of the pacing and stuff while doing it. Trial-and-error is for sure one way I will learn.

I don't mind! If you do "steal" it, it was made by chochajin. Comment at one of her posts (she posts 50 bases every once in awhile; think she's at 300 now) [http://chochajin.livejournal.com/65659.html] just in case. She has strict rules and wants to know who takes what, so she knows what people are interested in. You don't have to, of course, though.

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nachzes February 16 2007, 23:29:41 UTC
Ugh, this is one of my bad points, too. I come up with a surprise, and I give it away completely in the next chapter.

Basically...focus on your whole "exposition, initial incident, rising action, climax, denoument, conclusion" first, trying to fit everything in there in order. That should give you an idea of how to pace it. Also, if new ideas come up while you're writing, remember to insert them into the plotline before writing them, so that you won't write them until their time, and so you know how their placement affects the placement of other events.

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garowyn February 17 2007, 19:31:22 UTC
It's tough. =(

Those 6 words were drilled in my head all through school, and I finally get it through my head that they made us learn every year for a reason. I really should write stuff down and brainstorm more often. Thanks! I'll remember that.

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