J. Scott Savage “Four-Part Pacing”
Plotting is about WHAT happens, whereas Pacing is about WHEN something has to happen. Books are often rejected because pacing is bad. Several Pacing Strategies: The Hero’s Journey The Snowflake Method http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/ar... Dan Wells’ Seven-Point Story Structure http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/10/07...
The Big Picture What do I know? Divide story into meaningful chunks Ballpark *word count *words per chapter *number of chapters. Don’t stress how “exactly” stuff happens **Something amazing happens here
Savage figures 75000 words for a MG novel. At 1700 words per chapter, he calculates 44 chapters. He divides these into fourths. Chapters 1-11, 12-22, 23-33, 34-44
The Power of Fourths addresses what should happen in each section.
First Fourth 1) Setup with a good idea of the world. 2) “Buffy beginning” from TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Start story with a conflict that is NOT the main conflict. Use this conflict to pull the reader into the story. Introducing the main conflict too early can ruin the story. By the end of the first fourth, the secondary conflict will be taken over by the main conflict. 3) Planting seeds (hidden foreshadowing) Plant clues for the reader that you will use later 4) Introduce ALL main characters. (Discuss?) DON’T wait until halfway through the book to introduce a main character. Savage says THIS is the most important part. First fourth ends when the journey begins.
Second Fourth 1) Set characters on a quest—often puts them on a false path. Reader may believe the story is going to go in a certain direction, but that direction will be changed by a twist. This is often caused by a main character NOT knowing something. 2) Make sure characters are active and not reactive. Even if your character is engaged in a losing battle, the reader needs something to root for. Savage says THIS is the most important part.
Third Fourth 1) Set characters on a true quest. Character realizes her mistake and sets off on the TRUE QUEST. Core beliefs are rocked. 2) Character realizes the magnitude of the task before her. What is the worst thing that could happen to your character? 3) Internal and external dilemmas collide. (MC’s beliefs collide with what is happening to her.) 4) Build up tension for the climax. Clock is ticking BUT give payoffs. Ends when car chase starts. Savage says THIS is the most important part.
Fourth Fourth 1) Begins with major revelation. Something happens that makes everything clear. Stakes are high. No one can put the book down! 2) False success—Make the reader think she’s figured it out 3) “All is lost” Scenario is POWERFUL 4) Exciting climax with big payoff as multiple storylines collide 5) May also tell lessons learned/what is the takeaway Savage says THIS is the most important part.
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/ar...
Looks like that's as good as it gets. However if you click the links you do go to the pages
http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/ar...http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/ar...
http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/10/07...http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/10/07...
