Pacing: The Road
I write character-driven novels. You don't have to ask me. You can read reviews in places like Booklist or Romantic Times or PW or Kirkus. At some point, most reviewers seem to mention that.
However, it seems as if many writers tend to think of character-driven versus plot-driven as a fork in the road. You take one. You take the other. At the end of the Yellow Brick Road, you arrive at Oz with one type of book or another.
However, I have come to the conclusion--and this was not an easily arrived-at conclusion--that, in fact, if you want to excel at pacing, at a page turner, at not having a meh manuscript, each and every scene must advance the plot AND, if possible, our understanding of the character. You have to DRIVE your book down a road that winds these two elements together seamlessly.
I didn't used to think that. Considering myself a clever gal . . . if I had a clever scene . . . it stayed, particularly if I felt you just needed to see this particular side of a character.
No more.
When editors talk about pacing . . . this is really what they mean, I think.
Now, generally, when I talk about pacing, I will hear from a writer who will say something along the lines of, "It can't be relentless all the time. The characters will need a break here or there . .. so will the readers."
Nope.
Case in point. Last night at my group, I had a scene with an assassin checking into a hotel to establish an alibi. It takes three pages for him to check in. The scene shows (1) his methodical nature; (2) the manner in which he will have an alibi; (3) how completely banal he can appear to the outside world when in fact he is a cold-blooded killer (one I am actually quite fond of, since he is NOT actually, the villain).
Three pages. The scene works . . . it is a "pause" of sorts before a huge action arc lasting two chapters. But it both advances the plot (we know an assassination is going to take place) and character (we see his nature). It does not include any witty repartee to show how clever I am. It's not aimless. It's not a REAL pause in the action. The pace is still moving at a clip. It cannot be cut. If I cut it, and he suddenly turned up, readers would ask, "Well how did HE get there?"
I used to resist pacing. I really did. But now I see that the road isn't a fork, but is winding all its own in unison. And the pace of the journey better be a page at a time, unable to be put down.
Thoughts?
23 comments:
I think my novels are 60% plot driven and 40% character driven. I like the action and fast pace, but I also like braiding my character's life into whatever travesty he/she might be facing. Seeing how they emerge from the depths, their way of thinking, and how they react to other people can be just as thrilling as a car chase or a fight scene.
For me, if the pacing is advancing the story, character or plot driven won't matter because I'll be too entralled by every word to notice. That's when I know the author has done a superb job managing both and has hooked me into reading their next book.
Although I know what writers mean when they talk about the difference between character-driven and plot-driven, and it's safe to say my own novels are probably plot-driven, I don't think you can separate the two. When I write, I certainly don't. I think it has to do more with your focus and, as you say, your pacing.
Now, pacing, the best definition I heard of came from agent Nathan Bransford, who spoke about the efficiency of the scenes and the number of incidents. I think so, too. In fact, I have a quote up on my wall that I got when I interviewed thriller master David Morrell, and he was talking about when he wrote "The Brotherhood of the Rose" and how in a lot of ways it was his breakout novel. He said, and yes, I'm quoting: "'Big' books aren't made up of more words; they're made up of more incidents."
I'm not a seasoned enough writer to make any claims about my work. Those who've been generous enough to read it haven't commented on the plot-driven/character-driven ratio. So, damn, I don't know.
Yet, I believe my work leans toward the hero's journey, so I guess that makes it character driven first, plot second (?).
Yours truly,
Clueless in Western New York State. :)
To me, the best books are character-driven. That is, plot happens because of the characters' actions and reactions--every one of those actions and reactions unique to that character's motivation and general makeup. Otherwise, you have a string of incidents called "plot" and a group of plastic pawns being manipulated to serve it. The plot-driven novel can, and often does, work, but there's a certain richness it lacks, I think.
As far as pacing goes, I think the actual prose has a lot to do with it. Short sentences and paragraphs, short chapters, lots of dialogue. You can flip through a book without reading a word and tell if it's going to move fast or slow. The trick is to write a character-driven book that's also lightning-paced. Not easy to do.
I've been told my writing is character-driven, but I understand that the characters can't just sit around, they have to do things and the story must move along with every word.
I'm still figuring out how to do this with each new chapter.
Action scenes are just like sex scenes, for me. If they don't advance the emotional/character plot, I get to skimming, LOL. :-)
As a writer, I really don't know what I do. I build everything upon the emotional arc, so I suppose I'm character-driven, not sure. I think plot-driven is separable from character-driven, but I'm not sure character-driven is separable from plot-driven. That probably didn't make sense, LOL.
Great post, Erica. While reading it, I thought of the few times where I have come across a "slowed down" part of the action, where the character(s) take a break from the heat. I've seen it work and not work. Like you mention, a scene doesn't have to be action packed in order to move the story further along. So long as it builds on something. I'm fine with a character stopping to buy a cup of coffee and spending three or four pages waiting in line if something about him or her being there lends more to knowing the character, or to discovering something about the plot that may not have otherwise been noticed in a busy-busy scene. Sometimes it takes quiet to recognize the loud. If that makes sense. ;)
Great post. Hope you're well!
I think I tend to write more character-driven stories. I wasn't sure how to answer so I read the comments first, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who's not entirely clear on this.
As for pacing, I agree with what Jude said -- my sentences get shorter as the action increases, and more leisurely during moments of rest.
You can't drive a car without fuel or oil. Always have to keep your eye out for the red light alerting you to LOW. ;-)
ANd I can't pre-think cd or pd, but I'm aware I can't write anything without purpose.
Marcia:
I'm probably 60-40 the other way. LOL!
E
Mark:
Interesting. Never heard that quote before.
E
Kath:
See . . . I think they are not mutually exclusive. And I think it's important to keep in mind that they aren't as we write.
E
P.S. Equally clueless much of the time. ;-)
Jude:
I tend to agree. I have major Shiny New Idea Syndrome . . . cool hook. And it's going to boil down to whether I can pull off the very strange character who is going to tell the tale. And pace it just so. And . . . and . . . :-)
E
Amy:
I think in chick lit, women's fiction, and so on . . . it's probably even trickier, because so much of the appeal of those books is not fantastical but real life.
E
spy:
I am the same way with action. It's still got to tie to what I learn about character.
E
Hi Lori!!!
Nice to "see" you here.
And yeah . . . again, if it advances something . . . I am OK with it. But it's all got to be forward movement.
E
Plot driven~Character driven = confusing.
I have a plot but its my characters who move the plot along so how can I tell which it is? More of a blend, I guess?
What Jude H. said: "Plot happens because of the characters' actions and reactions--every one of those actions and reactions unique to that character's motivation and general makeup," is WICKED AWESOME! He put into words how I feel my writing unfolds.
Thanks for the clue, Jude. ;)
Ok that was excellent and just what I needed to hear right now as I tackle my revisions!
Melanie:
Definitely . . . sentences seem to match the pace.
E
Heather:
Good point. Purpose-driven writing.
E
ello:
As usual, love the dancing pig. ;-)
E
I'm late to answer this, but since I plot skimpily and the action comes from my characters, I would say my stories are character driven. At the same time, every scene has to advance the story, otherwise I'm ruthless about cutting. So maybe I'm 50/50.
I don't know if these two can be separated.
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