Pacing is the one of the biggest reasons I put a book down, so I really enjoyed this podcast episode.
I read a lot of middle grade, and there are two main pacing issues that crop up there. I call them "And then and then and then" and "That one BIG thing." "And then" is when there is one thing after another happening in the plot without actually moving the plot. It takes a perfectly reasonable 225 page story and makes it a blah blah blah 300 page book. "That one BIG thing" is when there is something Really Important that the author reminds the reader about every third paragraph. You are right - readers are smart - even kids! Don't beat them over the head with it.
In my experience, adult books suffer from "And then" most of the time. That's why they are often way too long for the amount of character development that actually happens. Maybe 15 self-destructive acts is plenty...no need for the next 5. (That's my other problem with adult books - so much destruction, not nearly enough hope. If you want hope, middle grade is the place to be.)
So far, I think your pacing is spot on. Brisk enough to be intriguing but not so breakneck that I can't (or don't want to) keep up. Every plot point has a purpose and there's no extra stuff. This chapter is a great example - you could have had him have a whole altercation with the guy in the pick-up truck...for no reason. Or you could have had one of the kids in the car start up a whole vapid conversation with him...for no reason. So, thanks for that.
Pacing is the one of the biggest reasons I put a book down, so I really enjoyed this podcast episode.
I read a lot of middle grade, and there are two main pacing issues that crop up there. I call them "And then and then and then" and "That one BIG thing." "And then" is when there is one thing after another happening in the plot without actually moving the plot. It takes a perfectly reasonable 225 page story and makes it a blah blah blah 300 page book. "That one BIG thing" is when there is something Really Important that the author reminds the reader about every third paragraph. You are right - readers are smart - even kids! Don't beat them over the head with it.
In my experience, adult books suffer from "And then" most of the time. That's why they are often way too long for the amount of character development that actually happens. Maybe 15 self-destructive acts is plenty...no need for the next 5. (That's my other problem with adult books - so much destruction, not nearly enough hope. If you want hope, middle grade is the place to be.)
So far, I think your pacing is spot on. Brisk enough to be intriguing but not so breakneck that I can't (or don't want to) keep up. Every plot point has a purpose and there's no extra stuff. This chapter is a great example - you could have had him have a whole altercation with the guy in the pick-up truck...for no reason. Or you could have had one of the kids in the car start up a whole vapid conversation with him...for no reason. So, thanks for that.
Looking forward to next week!