Definition
Pacing is the speed at which a story moves for the reader. Sentence length, scene length, summary, dialogue, and white space all control whether a moment feels rushed, steady, or slow.
Example
A chase told in short paragraphs and sharp verbs feels fast; a reunion told in long sensory sentences feels unhurried.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Keeping every chapter the same length and rhythm so tension never rises or falls.
- Speeding up important emotional turns by summarizing them instead of dramatizing them.