Jars of Words

It’s fascinating how most stories follow the same structure. Generally, there’s the Orientation, the First Plot Point, Pinch One, the Midpoint, Pinch Two, the Second Plot Point, then the Resolution. I’ve found that this structure is the cure to writer’s block. A sculptor cannot mold a statue from mud. A painter cannot create a masterpiece on his front lawn. Sculptors need clay, painters need canvases. In the same way, this structure serves as the foundation for our art form. Without it, it’s difficult to create anything at all.   That being said, some people think of structure as restricting, similar to how discovery writers view outlines. But, honestly, this foundation makes the process easier and your story stronger. There’s a reason this same basic story structure has been used since the beginning of time; it works. All of the familiar plot points are there, but that doesn’t make the story trite. Readers like structure. We’d all get annoyed if the villain was s

The pace of a story is the rate at which the action unfolds. If a story is too slow, readers will get bored; if it’s too fast, readers will become exhausted. To control the pace, examine the larger story. Make sure you introduce new conflicts as old ones are resolved, allow for breaks between the action, and speed up as you reach the climax. Use smaller, scene-related tools as well: draw out tension-filled or romantic moments and have quick fight scenes using some of the syntactic tools below. ***Note: have all POV characters reach the climax simultaneously. How to Slow the Pace Add in worldbuilding or introspection from the viewpoint character. Use long, descriptive sentences and deep vocabulary. Include interludes between moments of conflict (see my post “The Logistics of Scenes” for more details). Add flashbacks. Usually, they completely halt the story, so be careful. How to Accelerate the Pace Cut description (telling instead of