Pacing–Now and Then
My first post on the Passionate Critters’ (hereafter referred to as PC 
)blog, and I’m a bit nervous. See my hands trembling? My name is Jennifer Bianco, please call me Jenn, and I’m an aspiring writer of light, humorous mysteries with romantic and sometimes paranormal elements. I’m currently working on a YA mystery–hopefully the first of a series.
Yesterday, my daughter and I watched The Seventh Sign, with Demi Moore and Michael Biehn. I first saw it when it first came out in 1988. I fell in love with this movie–it’s twists and turns, the information, the ending. I purchased the VHS and must’ve watched it at least 10 times. It spoke to me on so many levels, and when I happened to turn to a channel showing it, just as it began, I couldn’t believe it. I became very excited and told my daughter how awesome it is.
Then a good 45 minutes in, I thought about how slow it seemed. Where were the good parts? Why was everyone just talking? I knew how it ended, and recalled some of the parts where I once oohed and ahhed, but they seemed sooo far away. It was during the middle of this movie that I realized how times have changed.
We hear all the time how we don’t have the attention spans we once did due to the media. Commercials deliver a full commercial in 30 second…S.E.C.O.N.D.S! Can you believe that? I watch commercials all the time (HUGE television fan here), but I never counted how long they were–never cared. The shows my kids watch zip, zing and zap. We’ve grown accustomed to fast, fast, fast.
Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of groans from other writers who enter contests and receive comments about how their book opening is too slow. Does every beginning nowadays need explosions in the first 250 words? Are stories only good if they’re chock full of trapeze acts? What about the slower, more quiet stories that still grip your heart and thrill your soul? Is the destination good only if the journey is strung out on caffeine?
Don’t get me wrong, I love an exciting explosion or edge-of-your-seat tension throughout, but if we continue at this pace, where will we be in another 20 years?
If we continue at this pace, then my 50 pages novellas will be considered full length fiction! LOL
I agree, it’s funny how books I loved 25 years ago, books I couldn’t put down and have on my keeper shelf – are slow to start. I’ve heard it said that all the classics would never be published if they hit the slush pile today.
We all have it drummed into us that you have to start with the conflict, start with the action, but sometimes as an author I know that approach just isn’t doing justice to my story or my character. But I have to suck it up just like everyone else.
Great thoughts to start my writing week – Thanks Jenn!
Debora(Quote) (Reply)
I agree completely. I find some books to be a journey and others a marathon. As I read more and more newer novels it feels like a quick sprint. (Which I enjoy, but have difficulty writing).
Personally I like the journey, some will join others won’t. *shrugs*. The real question is finding a pub/agent that really likes the journey also.
I have on my shelves a VERY limited number of books that I have kept over the years, ones that I will keep until the day I die I’m sure. They all have different pacing, depending on my mood. So I think it is good to have all available. Book that will last a couple hours and ones that will get you through a couple days.
I almost wonder if the slower starts are a dying breed, for the simple fact that pub/editors don’t want to read an entire book anymore to see if they like the ending. Now it’s more like, “Hey trash it if the plot doesn’t move forward in the first page.”
Who knows? All I know, is no one way is the right way or all books would read exactly the same.
Excellent Blog and thanks for turning the wheels.
Rachel(Quote) (Reply)
Goodness it’s true–and kinda sad.
I hope I don’t lose my ability to enjoy simple things like characterizations in my rush to get from point a to point b.
Jennifer Shirk(Quote) (Reply)
I actually don’t mind something that starts a little bit slow, as long as I know that eventually it’s going somewhere. Recently I rented Rachel Getting Married and it had a lot of very slow parts, and while I did get impatient during a few of them, overall it was nice to watch a movie that was more about the characters and less about getting to the next plot point as quickly as possible.
Kate Karyus Quinn(Quote) (Reply)