I'm not sure if I have the right approach to moving the plot forward at the right pace. I've summarised my views/ approach below and I'd appreciate any thoughts on - do people agree/ disagree?
I know that the pace of a novel will vary between genres and between individual novels within a genre, and that there's no one 'right' way to do it. However, I'm saying that the general principles below should hold true across different genres. What do you think - am I talking complete rubbish?
Here's what I think:
- As a general proposition, the pace/tension should gradually increase over the course of a novel, to build up to a climax at the end.
- If the pace/tension don't gradually increase, then the ending won't feel 'natural'; it might instead feel as though the author has just chosen a random place to stop writing, which wouldn't be satisfying for the reader.
- In the early and middle chapters, the plot developments shouldn't happen too fast. So in the early/middle chapters (but possibly not the later ones) I would adopt Dwight V Swain's formulation (from the book "Techniques of the selling writer.") Have an action-filled 'scene' where something happens, ending in an unexpected development or twist of some sort to 'hook' the reader, then follow it with a slower paced 'sequel' where the characters react to what has happened and decide what to do next. Once they've made their decision, move into the next 'scene' where they act on the decision. Then into the sequel of that scene, and so on.
- If you have only action-packed 'scenes' in the early or middle chapters, with constant action, there will be no chance for the reader to catch their breath, and the plot will feel unsatisfying/ too fast.
- As set out above, however, the pace/tension should increase as the plot moves towards its conclusion, building up to a climax. So towards the end of the novel, the balance between action packed 'scenes' and slower paced 'sequels' should increasingly shift towards the 'scenes.' The scenes should become longer and/or the sequels should become shorter. Towards the very end, as the tension reaches its highest point, possibly dispense with slow paced 'sequels' altogether and just have non-stop action 'scenes' until the final resolution.
I know that the pace of a novel will vary between genres and between individual novels within a genre, and that there's no one 'right' way to do it. However, I'm saying that the general principles below should hold true across different genres. What do you think - am I talking complete rubbish?
Here's what I think:
- As a general proposition, the pace/tension should gradually increase over the course of a novel, to build up to a climax at the end.
- If the pace/tension don't gradually increase, then the ending won't feel 'natural'; it might instead feel as though the author has just chosen a random place to stop writing, which wouldn't be satisfying for the reader.
- In the early and middle chapters, the plot developments shouldn't happen too fast. So in the early/middle chapters (but possibly not the later ones) I would adopt Dwight V Swain's formulation (from the book "Techniques of the selling writer.") Have an action-filled 'scene' where something happens, ending in an unexpected development or twist of some sort to 'hook' the reader, then follow it with a slower paced 'sequel' where the characters react to what has happened and decide what to do next. Once they've made their decision, move into the next 'scene' where they act on the decision. Then into the sequel of that scene, and so on.
- If you have only action-packed 'scenes' in the early or middle chapters, with constant action, there will be no chance for the reader to catch their breath, and the plot will feel unsatisfying/ too fast.
- As set out above, however, the pace/tension should increase as the plot moves towards its conclusion, building up to a climax. So towards the end of the novel, the balance between action packed 'scenes' and slower paced 'sequels' should increasingly shift towards the 'scenes.' The scenes should become longer and/or the sequels should become shorter. Towards the very end, as the tension reaches its highest point, possibly dispense with slow paced 'sequels' altogether and just have non-stop action 'scenes' until the final resolution.