Writing Tip of the Week
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Worried About the Mid-Story Slump?
Fuggeddaboudit.
Pacing in any literary work is an essential element of success (reader satisfaction/joy) and it is key to overcoming the much-dreaded mid-story slump. The slump arises when the writer produces too much material in a manner that doesn’t keep the reader reading. The information stacks up and eventually blocks the reader’s progress though the manuscript. Crafting that material in a manner that does keep the reader involved depends considerably on pacing.
Except for writing this little missive, I never think about pacing when writing my novels.
Let me repeat myself, I never think about pacing. And I recommend that you adopt the same attitude.
Why?
Aren’t you, Dan, contradicting yourself, Dan? Huh, Dan, huh?”
No. Here’s why.
Like most of you, I have read books on writing which cover the need for pacing. I’ve read magazine articles and internet posts on pacing. I’ve attended seminars in which pacing was discussed. I’ve talked about pacing for decades with other writers. All that information is stored in my subconscious. The subconscious mind is your writing partner, guide, inspiration and taskmaster. It knows more about pacing than any writer can possibly remember in the conscious mind. All that knowledge, experience and insight is in place within that subconscious – complete and ready for immediate use on whatever you write whenever you write it.
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Thinking, plotting and planning pacing is unnecessary because the subconscious mind is engaged from the moment you write “My name is Ismael” and it remains on the job all the way to “The End.”
The writer doesn’t have to think about pacing because his subconscious is already on the job. To me, thinking about pacing instead of just getting on with writing the piece accomplishes only one thing – it slows down the pace.
Recommended Reading: The Bandana Book – Stories of True Grit and Heart edited by AnnElise Makin.
Quote of the Week: “Every on has a talent;?what is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.” Erica Jong
Freebee of the Week: Check out www.danbaldwin.com for a free short story or chapter excerpt from one of my works.
Shameless Self-Promotion:
My political thriller, Sparky and the Twins, is a FINALIST in the Book Excellence Awards. That’s three-for-three. The first Sparky book, Sparky and the King, earned the FINALIST designation in the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. The second in the series, Sparky and the Beard was a WINNER in the Best Book Awards. Winners in this year’s Book Excellence Awards will be announced later.
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? Dan Baldwin 2023