Mastering Pacing: Keeping Your Readers Glued to the Page from Start to Finish
Introduction:
We’ve all read books that felt impossible to put down. Each scene pulled you deeper into the story. and for a while, the real world ceased to exist. That’s the magic created by an author who has mastered story pacing. Authors use pacing to control the rhythm of their narrative. By balancing the quick moments with the slow ones, they’re able to maintain tension and keep readers hooked. If your story moves too slowly, readers may lose interest. On the other hand, if it moves too fast, they might struggle to keep up or have a hard time connecting with your characters. To master pacing, you must find the perfect balance—one that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last.
Unlocking the Secrets of Iconic Characters: A Guide for Mystery Novel Authors
Creating memorable characters is a little bit like creating a new life. Iconic detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple have captivated readers for decades, and not just because they crack tough cases. Readers love them because they feel authentic and relatable. These characters have distinct quirks, strong motivations, and detailed, interesting backstories that make them unforgettable. By learning from these literary legends, we can craft characters who stand out and keep readers glued to the page from start to finish.
How to Write Dialogue— Creating Realistic Conversations
Think about all the people you know and what it is about their personalities that stand out to you. I’ll bet in at least some cases, your answer is based on how they speak. For example, the guy at the office who uses a certain phrase all the time, or the lady who lives down the block who always seems to be chomping on a stick of chewing gum and cracking it in between sentences. Or maybe you know someone sarcastic—always saying one thing but meaning another, in a mean or nice way. Or you have an uncle who is always cracking jokes, or an aunt who talks veeeeerrrrryyyy slooooowly. These types of characteristics make a person unique and memorable. The same applies to characters in a book.
