'Pace' may be described as the forward movement of your story. Sometimes it will move at a slower pace than at other times. What you need to aim for is a story that moves along fast enough to maintain reader interest, but not at such breakneck speed that the reader doesn't have time to get to know the characters or assimilate the plot. Nor do you want your story to slow down too much. That can lead to your reader closing the book. (If that reader happens to be the editor to whom you hope to sell the story, you're in big trouble.)

Scenes that contain a lot of action or conflict tend to elevate the reader's blood pressure. They have her whipping through the pages, anxious to absorb every moment of the drama being played out. A novel full of such scenes:

1. is too tiring to read for hours at a stretch and

2. sees the overall effect of each scene diminished so the entire novel loses punch.

A book that moves at too rapid a pace is like a movie packed with one action scene after another-it's all too much. To appreciate and enjoy the conflict when it happens (in a nail-biting kind of way) we need periods of calm between the storms. These alternating scenarios can be regarded as scenes and their sequels.

The scene involves the main characters in action and/or conflict. It usually contains dialogue. Picture it as a scene from a movie - lights, camera, ACTION!

Following such a scene, you give your reader a chance to breathe, by moving into the sequel. The sequel is the logical aftermath of the scene. In the sequel, the viewpoint character has time to think about what has just happened, what it means to him/her, and what he/she intends to do next. By planning your novel as a series of scenes and sequels, you can control the pace.

Want to slow things down? Expand the sequel, the 'calm' period, which gives the character (and the reader) 'time out'.

Want to speed things up? Shorten the sequel. For example:

'By the time Marianne reached her apartment, she was good and mad. There was no way she intended to let Jake Rockford get away with a pathetic story like that! Five minutes after walking through her front door, she was dialling the Rockford's number. Within half an hour, she was pulling up in her sister's driveway, ready to do battle.'

Learn to use scene and sequel effectively, and you retain control over the pacing of your novel. At all times the paramount question in your mind should be: How will this scene advance the story? If the answer is 'I don't know' or 'It won't, really' - then out it goes, no matter how well-written it is.

The Structure Of A Scene

The viewpoint character in each scene should have a goal. Why? So you don't include scenes that go nowhere and achieve nothing. Scenes that bog your story down.

hese are the things you should take into consideration when planning a scene:

1. What is the viewpoint character's goal?

• What does he want at the outset of the scene?

• How will the action in the scene help him to get what he wants?

• Is the scene goal relevant to the viewpoint character's main goals in life? (Either work or private)

• Will the reader worry about whether the viewpoint character will get what he wants?

• What complications will arise to prevent your character from achieving her goal(s)?

• How will your character try to overcome these problems?

• Will the readers worry about whether the character will achieve her goal(s)?

• Is the viewpoint character better off or worse off at the end of the scene?

• If he is better off, have you introduced (or foreshadowed) a new plot twist to maintain tension? (Never make things too easy for your main character.)

• Has the scene moved the story forward?

• Has the scene left the reader wanting to know what will happen next?

• Have you answered the question you set up in the reader's mind at the beginning of the scene? (For example: will Character get what he wants? How will he go about getting what he wants?)

• Have you had the
  Link Building For SEO On A New Site
  Ah, the joys of link building and search engine optimization. If you have a new site, here is a tip that you might want to consider. Then again, you may just want to pitch it.Link building simply refers to an issue known as relevancy. When ranking sites in search engine results, Google tends to list the site that is the most relevant. There are a lot of factors that go into determining relevancy, but the number of other sites linking to yours is one of them. This is why a site like the one for the IRS is high in search results for tax issues even though it does not trade links per se.Ideally, you want only inbound links from other sites that a
  iring to read for hours at a stretch and

• sees the overall effect of each scene diminished so the entire novel loses punch. None of us can put up with constantly high stress levels without burning out!

  A book that moves at too rapid a pace is like a movie packed with one action scene after another-it's all too much. To appreciate and enjoy the conflict when it happens (in a nail-biting kind of way) we need periods of calm between the storms. These alternating scenarios can be regarded as scenes and their sequels.

  The scene involves the main characters in action and/or conflict. It usually contains dialogue. Picture it as a scene from a movie - lights, camera, ACTION!

  Following such a scene, you give your reader a chance to breathe, by moving into the sequel. The sequel is the logical aftermath of the scene. In the sequel, the viewpoint character has time to think about what has just happened, what it means to him/her, and what he/she intends to do next. By planning your novel as a series of scenes and sequels, you can control the pace.

  Want to slow things down? Expand the sequel, the 'calm' period, which gives the character (and the reader) 'time out'.

  Want to speed things up? Shorten the sequel. For example:

  'By the time Marianne reached her apartment, she was good and mad. There was no way she intended to let Jake Rockford get away with a pathetic story like that! Five minutes after walking through her front door, she was dialling the Rockford's number. Within half an hour, she was pulling up in her sister's driveway, ready to do battle.'

  In just a few lines, you have pitchforked the reader into the next action-packed scene. We know that Marianne doesn't believe Jake's story. We know she's eager to confront Julie and/or Jake. And we haven't wasted any time getting her there: one scene leads very quickly into the next, thus keeping the story moving along at a smart clip.

  Learn to use scene and sequel effectively, and you retain control over the pacing of your novel. At all times the paramount question in your mind should be: How will this scene advance the story? If the answer is 'I don't know' or 'It won't, really' - then out it goes, no matter how well-written it is.

  The Structure Of A Scene

  The viewpoint character in each scene should have a goal. Why? So you don't include scenes that go nowhere and achieve nothing. Scenes that bog your story down.

  hese are the things you should take into consideration when planning a scene:

  1. What is the viewpoint character's goal?

  • What does he want at the outset of the scene?

  • How will the action in the scene help him to get what he wants?

  • Is the scene goal relevant to the viewpoint character's main goals in life? (Either work or private)

  • Will the reader worry about whether the viewpoint character will get what he wants?
  2. What is the source of conflict?

  • What complications will arise to prevent your character from achieving her goal(s)?

  • How will your character try to overcome these problems?

  • Will the readers worry about whether the character will achieve her goal(s)?
  3. Does your scene end dramatically?
  • Is the viewpoint character better off or worse off at the end of the scene?

  • If he is better off, have you introduced (or foreshadowed) a new plot twist to maintain tension? (Never make things too easy for your main character.)

  • Has the scene moved the story forward?

  • Has the scene left the reader wanting to know what will happen next?

  • Have you answered the question you set up in the reader's mind at the beginning of the scene? (For example: will Character get what he wants? How will he go about getting what he wants?)
  4. Have you planned the scene's sequel?

  • Have you had the
    Cheap Salon Equipment
    There are various types of salon equipment available to meet any salon needs. There are gadgets to outfit and set hair, nails and other forms of body beautification. There is basic, inexpensive, salon equipment, appropriate for a start-up venture or for a regular non-expensive salon owner. On the other hand, an experienced salon owner's business may benefit from the expensive salon equipment.An indispensable piece of salon equipment is the chair. The typical chair features a thickly padded seat, for comfort, as well as the ability to recline and lift. This feature allows a stylist to adjust the chair according to the height of the client quickly. Oth
    nning your novel as a series of scenes and sequels, you can control the pace.

    Want to slow things down? Expand the sequel, the 'calm' period, which gives the character (and the reader) 'time out'.

    Want to speed things up? Shorten the sequel. For example:

    'By the time Marianne reached her apartment, she was good and mad. There was no way she intended to let Jake Rockford get away with a pathetic story like that! Five minutes after walking through her front door, she was dialling the Rockford's number. Within half an hour, she was pulling up in her sister's driveway, ready to do battle.'

    In just a few lines, you have pitchforked the reader into the next action-packed scene. We know that Marianne doesn't believe Jake's story. We know she's eager to confront Julie and/or Jake. And we haven't wasted any time getting her there: one scene leads very quickly into the next, thus keeping the story moving along at a smart clip.

    Learn to use scene and sequel effectively, and you retain control over the pacing of your novel. At all times the paramount question in your mind should be: How will this scene advance the story? If the answer is 'I don't know' or 'It won't, really' - then out it goes, no matter how well-written it is.

    The Structure Of A Scene

    The viewpoint character in each scene should have a goal. Why? So you don't include scenes that go nowhere and achieve nothing. Scenes that bog your story down.

    hese are the things you should take into consideration when planning a scene:

    1. What is the viewpoint character's goal?

    • What does he want at the outset of the scene?

    • How will the action in the scene help him to get what he wants?

    • Is the scene goal relevant to the viewpoint character's main goals in life? (Either work or private)

    • Will the reader worry about whether the viewpoint character will get what he wants?
    2. What is the source of conflict?

    • What complications will arise to prevent your character from achieving her goal(s)?

    • How will your character try to overcome these problems?

    • Will the readers worry about whether the character will achieve her goal(s)?
    3. Does your scene end dramatically?
    • Is the viewpoint character better off or worse off at the end of the scene?

    • If he is better off, have you introduced (or foreshadowed) a new plot twist to maintain tension? (Never make things too easy for your main character.)

    • Has the scene moved the story forward?

    • Has the scene left the reader wanting to know what will happen next?

    • Have you answered the question you set up in the reader's mind at the beginning of the scene? (For example: will Character get what he wants? How will he go about getting what he wants?)
    4. Have you planned the scene's sequel?

    • Have you had the
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      There is an intense amount of competition in the e-commerce world. Your success depends on a lot of things like your ranking on search engines, your prices, and your product selection, but it also depends on how you treat your customers. In bricks and mortar retail when people have a bad experience they tell friends and family and their friends and family tell more people, and that can hurt your companies reputation.Those same things apply to the internet. If someone shops at your store and has a bad experience they will share that with other people they know and that could destroy your companies reputation. The best things to do to avoid getting a b
      e scene and sequel effectively, and you retain control over the pacing of your novel. At all times the paramount question in your mind should be: How will this scene advance the story? If the answer is 'I don't know' or 'It won't, really' - then out it goes, no matter how well-written it is.

      The Structure Of A Scene

      The viewpoint character in each scene should have a goal. Why? So you don't include scenes that go nowhere and achieve nothing. Scenes that bog your story down.

      hese are the things you should take into consideration when planning a scene:

      1. What is the viewpoint character's goal?

      • What does he want at the outset of the scene?

      • How will the action in the scene help him to get what he wants?

      • Is the scene goal relevant to the viewpoint character's main goals in life? (Either work or private)

      • Will the reader worry about whether the viewpoint character will get what he wants?
      2. What is the source of conflict?

      • What complications will arise to prevent your character from achieving her goal(s)?

      • How will your character try to overcome these problems?

      • Will the readers worry about whether the character will achieve her goal(s)?
      3. Does your scene end dramatically?
      • Is the viewpoint character better off or worse off at the end of the scene?

      • If he is better off, have you introduced (or foreshadowed) a new plot twist to maintain tension? (Never make things too easy for your main character.)

      • Has the scene moved the story forward?

      • Has the scene left the reader wanting to know what will happen next?

      • Have you answered the question you set up in the reader's mind at the beginning of the scene? (For example: will Character get what he wants? How will he go about getting what he wants?)
      4. Have you planned the scene's sequel?

      • Have you had the
        101 Free Sales Tips For Business Professionals And Entrepreneurs
        This article condenses all sales tips and selling advice in the history of sales tips in short, concise statements. 101 in total:1. Always Be Closing (ABC) 2. Persistence pays 3. Always ask for business referrals 4. Always carry business cards 5. Take a new sales course 6. Read a new sales book 7. Subscribe to a sales ezine 8. Make 10 cold calls a day 9. Learn a new sales closing technique 10. Don’t overexert yourself 11. Read Selling Power Magazine 12. Practice you sales pitches 13. Learn from your sales manager 14. Read Selling Power Magazine 15. Know what your competition is doi
        e source of conflict?

        • What complications will arise to prevent your character from achieving her goal(s)?

        • How will your character try to overcome these problems?

        • Will the readers worry about whether the character will achieve her goal(s)?
        3. Does your scene end dramatically?
        • Is the viewpoint character better off or worse off at the end of the scene?

        • If he is better off, have you introduced (or foreshadowed) a new plot twist to maintain tension? (Never make things too easy for your main character.)

        • Has the scene moved the story forward?

        • Has the scene left the reader wanting to know what will happen next?

        • Have you answered the question you set up in the reader's mind at the beginning of the scene? (For example: will Character get what he wants? How will he go about getting what he wants?)
        4. Have you planned the scene's sequel?

        • Have you had the character think about what has just happened?

        • Have you had the character decide what to do next to pursue her goal?

        • Have you had the character take action or make a decision that moves us into the next scene?

        (c) Copyright Marg McAlister