Pacing in Writing 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked

Pacing in Writing 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked Pacing in Writing: 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked If you’ve ever bitten your nails in expectation while reading a novel - or struggled to focus on a particularly long passage of a book - then you already have firsthand experience when it comes to learning how readers can be affected by the pacing in writing. Pacing refers to the speed at which the action takes place. It’s a vital part of your story, and it takes time and careful consideration to get just right. What is pacing and why is it important? Learn the answer here Why exactly is pacing important?Think all you need is a compelling character to hook readers? Well†¦ you need a bit more than just that. Wonderfully drawn characters can’t keep your readers interested forever - even a book featuring beloved characters like Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, or Elizabeth Bennet would be a slog if the first fifty pages described them slowly going about their daily activities.That's where pacing steps in. Pacing affects the mood of your story, helps develop ideas and themes, and allows your readers to connect to the characters and the events that surround them.While it might be easy to think that a fast pace will be most effective, the truth is that it depends on the story you’re telling. While thrillers tend to be quick and action-packed, romances and other character-driven stories sometimes work best when they take their time.To see what "fast-paced" means, check out these 23 psychological thrillers that will make your head spin.That sai d, the most important thing to keep in mind when you're outlining your novel and thinking about pacing is balance. A single story can’t (and shouldn’t) be all fast or all slow. Instead, there should be a trade-off between the two. This provides variety, makes the story interesting, and keeps the readers hooked.Think about it as music: it’s the highs and lows combined that makes a song appealing to the ear. If it was made up of a single, flat note, it would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it?What techniques have you used to change the pacing of your story? Let us know in the comments below!