XaiJu
AuthorSME
AuthorSME

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Question On Pacing

I've been trying to speed up my pacing—honestly, it's been something I've been trying to work on for months.  Sometimes I feel like I'm going too fast and others I'm going too slow.

Since coming back from Covid this last week of releasing chapters, I've wondered if I might be falling into my old habits of too much Show and not enough Tell.  Ironic, really, but my issue tends to be I want to 'show' EVERYTHING ... every detail or step along the way on a character's journey that builds them to who they are.

The issue is that it can feel slow and while there are a LOT of character things happening, foreshadowing, world building, etc.  The actual plot can feel bogged down by so many detailed encounters and interactions.

So, my question is, should I do even more 'tell' instead of 'show' and which series do you think/feel a bit bogged down right now and could use speeding up.  I mean, for certain things I slow it down on purpose to provide motivation, drive, or growth, but I can get exasperated myself with my detailed style at times.

So, lay it on me!

Comments

That's definitely the thing that makes things seem slow, most web novels have that.

Richard Doss

I almost voted TO too slow but when I thought about it some more I realized the pace is just fine. I'm just enjoying it too much which makes the wait for the next chapter SEEM like things are taking forever.

AnimeJunkie

I personally think pacing concerns is just the nature of the "by post" beast. I would be careful trying to cater to both by post and typical by book release types. I would be curious if those that think you are going too slow would feel the same if they could binge a whole book/arc at once.

Darth Mole

Honestly I tend to feel your pacing leans towards too fast.

Ryan

That's fine too. I just mentioned that chart because I am currently obsessed with relationship graphs. Sadly I havent found any website where one can do such graphs easily (especially with a moving timeline). Edit: As soon as I find something I'll pm you :3

Falxie

Eh, heh, actually, that just made my head spin just looking at it xD I tend to like to do more structured things like in word documents, but I can see where something easily able to be seen can be immediately good to reference. My initial idea was to have it be like my skill chart kind of release. Ri'bot Clans: 1. Delthax - Name the person, looks, significance in the story, relations, etc. Locations: Nalvean Empire - etc. - Locations of interest in the Empire Think I can do something that would be easier to reference in some other method? Is there a website I might be able to use to make things a bit more visual?

SME

Awesome idea. Maybe in the style of a relationship diagram (like this but obiously less obfuscated https://i.insider.com/5516d33969beddbc32343a7a )

Falxie

I like the current pacing. Its a good mix between show and tell😊👍

Dont_like_to_Talk

Honestly, another thing I've been wanting to do is release a Semi-Annual like ... Compendium of all the past characters, places, and races, etc. ... I think something like that would help greatly for series like UE and ATM at this point.

SME

I like more show than tell so current pacing feels good.

Falxie


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