Molly Christian Tyler

Pacing can make the difference between a book readers DNF and one they can’t put down.

If you reveal information too early in your novel, the plot loses momentum and readers lose interest. If you reveal it too late, the story drags, and you risk losing your audience before they make it to the big moment.

I’ve been thinking about pacing a lot as I revise my current work in progress, and developed a method of tracking narrative beats against the ideal length of my manuscript to ensure the plot moves at a steady pace.

What Is Pacing and Why Does It Matter?

Pacing is simply how fast or slowly a story unfolds. You’ve probably thought or talked about pacing before, possibly without realizing it. It’s fairly easy for even casual readers to identify if a book is a page turner or takes its time getting to the climax.

As such, pacing has a huge impact on how readers experience your novel. Many books blend fast-paced scenes with slower ones, creating a rhythm that keeps readers engaged without overwhelming them.

Common Pacing Pitfalls

Some of the most common writing mistakes can be tied to pacing issues. These are the ones I see most frequently as a reader, and that I struggle with in my own writing.

The Slow Start

If you’ve seen literary agents or editors online talking about some of the top issues they find in new authors’ manuscripts, you’ll likely find a post or two about novels that “start in chapter three” or four.

Sometimes we need to write for a while before we figure out what our story is really about (which is why I love a zero draft). When those early pages are left in, they can end up delaying the introduction to the main conflict and stakes of your story.

It’s important to make sure the hook of your story—the initial event that is meant to intrigue readers and make them curious what will happen next—is introduced as soon as possible so readers don’t have to wade through several scenes or chapters before arriving at the main point.

The Sagging Middle

When I’m coming up with a new idea for a novel, I can usually picture the beginning and the ending very clearly. The middle is always the hardest part for me to figure out, which I don’t think is an uncommon problem to have.

The infamous “sagging middle” refers to a second act whose pacing drags. The book may have started out with a strong hook, but the journey to the climax feels lackluster because there’s a lack of momentum.

The Sudden Ending

A sudden or rushed ending can make even the most compelling page turner feel abruptly unsatisfying.

Some novels maintain a fast clip throughout, which keeps readers invested. But when the climax arrives, it seems to come out of the blue, and readers flip the last page thinking, “that’s it?”

When this problem arises, it’s usually a signal that you need to find opportunities to layer slower moments in with the action and give readers a chance to breathe before you head into the final stretch.

My Novel Pacing Tracker Template

To help keep track of my own novel’s pacing, I created a spreadsheet to monitor how far into the story important events happen.

I’m following the three-act structure from the Helping Writers Become Authors story structure series, but you could adapt this template and use it for other frameworks, like the Hero’s Journey or the Save the Cat! 15-beat story structure.

Here’s what you’ll need to do to use the template.

Open the link and click File » Make a Copy to duplicate the template.

Scroll down to cell D21 and input your target word count for your novel. This is your ideal total word count, not the current total word count of your manuscript, which may be different (especially if you’re still working on your first draft). You can adjust the total if you need to as you revise your manuscript.

Next, check out the green, blue, and purple sections at the top of the tracker. Here you can write out brief descriptions of your story’s conflict(s), stakes, and theme(s). Even though they aren’t strictly related to pacing, I find it helpful to have them visible so I keep them top of mind as I’m revising.

Now you can start filling out the pacing tracker. In the Chapter colum, put the chapter in which the corresponding Beat occurs. I like to include a short synopsis of the beat as well, so I understand what it looks like in my particular story.

In the Word Count column, put the word count of the beat, not necessarily the whole chapter.

Some beats might cover multiple chapters, while others might take just a scene or two.

The % Progress column will automatically update to show how far into your novel the beat extends based on your target word count. You can compare this to the Progress Benchmark, which shows the ideal pace at which you should reach the end of that each beat according to the Helping Writers Become Authors story structure framework.

Your % Progress will rarely, if ever, match the Progress Benchmark exactly, but if they’re relatively close, you can feel confident that your story is moving at the expected pace.

Here’s how this tracker might help you identify the common pacing pitfalls I covered earlier:

1. If your Hook is 5% or farther into your manuscript, you’ve probably written a slow start. Examine your opening scenes or chapters to determine if you can introduce the hook earlier. Some of your opening material may belong in the setup that follows the hook, or you might just need to cut it.
2. If your first and second pinch points and/or midpoint are nonexistent, or too far into your manuscript, you have a sagging middle on your hands. Look for scenes you can cut, condense, or move to bring the action forward and keep your plot moving.
3. If your climax begins well before the 88% mark, your ending is probably rushed. Consider whether there are additional obstacles your protagonist needs to overcome before they reach the breaking point to make the finale as impactful as possible.

There are lots of ways to customize the tracker and make it useful for your work in progress. If you find it helpful, let me know how you’re using it in the comments!

Featured Image Credit: Unsplash.