New on OUTLIERS ONE MORE THING: Tension and Pacing
- D. P. Lyle
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
TENSION AND PACING
By Allison Brennan
A long time ago, I interviewed my first editor and asked her what recurring issue she saw that she had a hard time fixing. She didn’t hesitate: pacing. She said it was so fundamental to a story that while you could suggest cutting too-slow scenes or expanding too-fast ones, getting pacing right throughout an entire novel was a major challenge, especially for new writers.
I’ve been teaching writing classes for over 20 years now, and one of the most common questions I get is, “How do I fix pacing?”
Well, if my brilliant editor couldn’t provide a magic fix, how could I? But, since pacing seems to trip everyone up on occasion, I came up with a few tips.
Tension Is Your Friend
No matter your genre—romance, thriller, sci-fi, or even a cozy mystery—tension is key. It’s the engine that keeps the reader turning pages. It’s about giving readers some info, withholding some things, letting them catch their breath for a second, then hitting them with a gut-punch. It’s like a roller coaster ride: the ups are nice, but the real fun happens on the drops.
Suspense isn’t just for thrillers; it’s the backbone of every story. If you’re not building it, you’re losing readers.
How to Slow Down Pacing
(Thriller writers, stay with me—yes, sometimes slowing the pace is exactly what you need. I promise, we’ll talk about this another time.)
1. More Narrative – Add longer descriptions or introspection. Get inside your character’s head and make readers feel what they feel. But don’t overdo it—too much of a good thing will have your readers closing the book before they’re done.
2. Flashbacks – I know, I know—you’re rolling your eyes. But flashbacks, when done right, are a sneaky (and effective) way to slow things down. They allow you to share vital backstory in a natural, engaging way.
3. Layer Details – Use longer sentences and paragraphs that evoke a sense of calm or nostalgia. Just don’t drag it out to the point where the reader starts daydreaming.
4. Quiet Conversations – Conversations between characters in intimate settings (a quiet dinner, pillow talk, a long drive) can slow pacing, but if done right, they’re invaluable. They add depth and can help develop character while slowing the rush.
How to Speed Up Pacing
1. Shorter Chapters – These give readers the feeling of quick movement and keep the adrenaline flowing.
2. Shorter Sentences – No filler, no fluff. Pack a punch with every line.
3. Crisp Dialogue – Less introspection, more action. A character’s internal monologue can drag out a scene—keep it tight.
4. Action Verbs – Use them liberally. The more your characters do, the less you need to describe.
The key to pacing is rhythm. Slow down, speed up, but always keep the reader engaged. And above all—don’t be boring.
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids and writes three books a year. She lives with her family in Arizona where she enjoys hiking, baseball Spring Training, and (of course) reading. Best known for her long-running Lucy Kincaid FBI series, Allison is currently writing the Quinn & Costa thrillers (Make It Out Alive, Jan 2026) and Angelhart Investigations (Don’t Say a Word, Sept 2025). Her first romantic mystery, Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds, will be out June 17, 2025
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