All stories pace up and down. Fast action juxtaposes with moody reveries. That is the nature of a story, as it is of life. 

If everything were to happen at the same clip, either the story would become like a sonorous monotone or run away with all your attention and bandwidth.

But what if the story goes meandering into an irrelevant flashback right when the protagonist discovers he is on a flimsy boat without oars while a furious waterfall roars ahead? 

Pacing controls the rhythm of your story—the rise and fall of tension, the push and pull of suspense, the breathing room between dramatic beats. Get it wrong, and even the best ideas feel sloppy or exhausting.

Why Do Pacing Problems Happen?

Too much detail, too soon

Authors sometimes try to immerse readers immediately, dumping backstory, exposition, or world-building on page one. The result? Readers choke on information and the story stalls.

Neglecting tension arcs

Every story has peaks and valleys. Without them, your narrative feels flat. Conversely, if tension never releases, the story overwhelms. An ‘arc’ presupposes a rise and fall. Both extremes are essential to let the readers disengage.

Uneven scene length

Some writers sprint through pivotal moments and linger on mundane ones. When a thrilling confrontation gets a paragraph and a walk to school gets three pages, pacing is sabotaged.

Character detours

Subplots are great—but if they dominate the narrative without supporting the main arc, they slow momentum. Your protagonist’s journey should remain the spine of the story.

How to Fix Pacing Problems

Map your tension

Sketch your story as a graph: rising action, climaxes, falling action. Identify where tension lags or spikes too abruptly. Adjust scenes so each beat serves the narrative flow.

Vary sentence and scene length

Short, punchy sentences accelerate moments of action; longer, reflective sentences slow the pace when needed. Similarly, trim scenes that drag and expand ones that deserve attention.

Balance exposition with action

Instead of info-dumping, weave details into dialogue, character reactions, or small, revealing actions. Let the story breathe while keeping readers engaged.

Cut or merge detours

Evaluate subplots and secondary character arcs. If they distract from the protagonist’s journey, consider cutting, merging, or shortening them. Every scene should earn its place.

Read aloud or “film” the story

Reading your story out loud or imagining it as a movie helps identify where pacing feels awkward. Scenes that bore or confuse will stick out. Adjust accordingly.

Practical Example

Imagine a thriller where the hero discovers a betrayal:

Problematic pacing: The revelation is buried in three pages of dialogue about lunch choices, then the chase scene lasts only one paragraph. Readers lose tension and engagement.

Fixed pacing: Condense the lunch dialogue into a few sentences that hint at betrayal. Expand the chase scene with sensory detail and stakes, giving the tension room to breathe. The reader feels suspense and satisfaction.

Pacing is the invisible hand guiding your reader through your story. When it falters, even compelling plots and characters fail to resonate.

Fixing pacing isn’t about rigid rules; it’s about awareness. Map tension, vary rhythm, balance action and exposition, and trim detours. These adjustments keep your readers turning pages, eager to reach the story’s conclusion.

Your story deserves to flow—not stumble.

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Want expert help untangling pacing issues in your manuscript? I work with authors on developmental editing and author coaching to polish story flow and keep readers hooked. Book a session or join our free writing community, Pen to Print.

Mother of three adult humans. An idealistic, outspoken woman of scrupulous integrity, in love with words. A storyteller who enjoys crocheting tales. And a passionate bibliophile, of course.