The Art of Pacing
New author video is live — “I Wrote Four Books in a Year”
And new Suncatchers video is live too — “Clips from Fall 2022”
Many writers I know struggle with the art of pacing. There is a balance to strike between the ability to “receive” the muse vs. outline, to write with polish vs. write for speed.
Some of the most impressive and phenomenal fantasy writers write (sometimes frustratingly) slowly — see Pat Rothfuss, George R.R. Martin — and some of the most impressive and phenomenal fantasy writers write quickly — see Stephen King and Brandon Sanderson.
It seems to come down to goals. It is true that quantity begets quality. You have to do things many, many times to get good at it. But at the same time, each of our minds works and processes differently. The daily rewrite, in my estimation, adds to the word-count.
I would suggest asking some more fundamental questions —
Do I know the heart of this story?
Does this feel right when held up to that heart?
Am I crafting the work or am I spinning my wheels?
It is just as possible to write FAST and to lose sight of what you’re really trying to do with your work as it is to write SLOW and grind yourself to a halt. I’ve done both. If you can take a moment to take a temperature check, search your feelings (Luke), and proceed from there, you’re sure to make the right call.
THAT SAID, if you are interested in increasing your pace, the video above is for you.
It is also a peek into each of my four fantasy novel series. Check it out!
WRITING UPDATE: I am 20-25% through with the first draft of the Glass-Wielder Chronicle, pace slowed down a bit this week with birthdays and presentations, but we’re moving along. PREVIEW — we’ve just arrived at a location I love, a spherical glassworks building hidden in the forest.
Interested in being a beta reader? I’m currently seeking beta readers for Blink of the Four Winds. I welcome anyone from any background to read. I want honest feedback about what you like, don’t like, and how the story makes you feel. Reach out to me at hadrian.pollard@gmail.com with the subject titled “BETA READER” for more info.
Want to support my books and my educational programs? Find me on PATREON here
