  Drama
This week: Edited by: Joy  
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For me, a page of good prose is where one hears the rain [and] the noise of battle.
~John Cheever~
I try to leave out the parts that people skip.
~Elmore Leonard~
Hello, this is Joy , this week’s Drama editor. Our topic in this issue is pacing.
To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make.
~Truman Capote~ in McCall's, November 1967
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
~Mark Twain~ |
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image courtesy of "Invalid Item"
Welcome to the Drama newsletter
Are you dreaming of offering the perfect story after you have set up the conflict, theme, characters, and plot? Well, you'd better start thinking about your pacing. The best key for locking your story elements together is the right pacing.
Pacing has to do with a writer’s manipulation of time while he tells his story. When something happens slowly, lyrical prose, long sentences, and more narration take place. When something happens fast, then short, choppy sentences and excited dialogue are used. Consequently, when you alternate these fast and slow sections in a plot, you create rhythm.
Rhythm is one of the elements that cause the readers to get emotionally involved with the story. Rhythm not only happens with the entire story, but also within its parts; chapters, scenes, paragraphs, and even sentences. In a story that is meant to be dramatic and exciting, the faster paced scenes concentrate more, at or toward the end. This does not mean that you should heap all the exciting parts together. Even at the end of your story, these action-filled scenes should have slow pacing sections in between them.
If too many slow sections follow one another in a plot, the writing creates a monotone and lulls the readers to sleep just like the lullabies do with sounds, but slowing the pacing has its uses, too. When you want to emphasize a point, slow the pacing.
Keep in mind that narratives slow the pacing. If your main character has a limp and you want to slow the pace, show it by describing his shoes, his legs, how he actually steps on cobblestones, how his body twists as he steps etc. If the same character is running away from a man with a gun and you want this section to be fast paced, then don’t go into detail about his limp, but indicate it in a short sentence with an action verb that pinpoints the idea. This could be something like: He rushed around the corner, then hobbled into an alley...
On the other hand, if an entire section of a plot is too fast-paced, the readers will feel dizzy as if they are in a speeding car. After an exciting, active scene with dramatic impact, let the reader rest a bit by slowing the pace down. If you give all your scenes the intensity of a fast pace, the reader will eventually tire out, and his mind will feel numb to the power of your words.
If your story has a time frame in it where nothing involving the central conflict happens, in other words if your characters are living ordinary lives, don’t waste time dwelling in that time frame. Write a short transition to move through that section quickly by saying something like: Ten days passed without any incident or any call from the man with the gun.
Proper pacing keeps the reader’s attention on the story by keeping the tension up while still giving the reader a breather in between fast actions. Whether you are writing a short story or a novel, a balance between slow and active scenes is needed for the success of your work. If you are writing a novel, pace your events in such a way that an important incident takes place in each chapter.
Pacing usually comes to a writer after a lot of experience. Once in a while, pacing happens to some writers intuitively.
 If you feel you are not intuitive enough with pacing and you want to work at it, take an already written story and do this exercise:
 A Pacing Exercise:
Color the slow-paced parts of the text with blue and the fast-paced parts of the text with red. If your text is in your computer, you can easily do it with text colors. Otherwise use red and blue pencils to underline the passages.
Your story should contain both red and blue sections. They should alternate throughout the story with red sections probably increasing toward the end.
If your blue passages are concentrated as one whole section, this may mean you have introspection and backstory bundled up and dumped there. Introspection and backstory are better used, in sprinkles, when they are inserted inside the story with the action.
Then, always use your common sense and writer’s judgment before changing anything, as this exercise may not apply to every story.
If you continue writing while keeping the rhythm of your work in mind, proper pacing will start happening in your work naturally. As in everything else, practice makes perfect.  
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Thank you for reading this newsletter, and before I start thanking the writers of the feedback on the last issue, let's take a look at a tip.
This Issue’s Tip:
 Stating the negative or what something isn’t can be counterproductive because it directs the mind to the opposite direction, as those of us who are or have been parenting would know.
Examples:
 Instead of saying, "Don't feel intimidated," say "Be bold!"
Instead of saying, "She didn't like conservative clothes," say, "She preferred the modern look," especially when you want to present your character under a favorable light..
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Acme 
Oh, Joy  Now I'm starverating... (ace newsletter, and this is one writer with their senses engaged  )
Thank you, Acme. 
Yup, "Food, glorious food!"
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Thomas
Hmmmm. Interesting. You've given me much food for thought. Especially since I'm working on my NaNoWriMo novel right now.
Thank you very much, Thomas.
I so admire all you NaNo Writers. God speed! May you have the wind behind your back and keep up the wonderful work.
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Jaye P. Marshall 
Great newsletter, Joy, and the selections you chose aptly represented the points you made. A lot of good reading there.
Thanks, Jaye.
Most of the selections in the text are those books I have read, reviewed, and enjoyed greatly.
If you meant the editor's picks, with all that talent in this site, what I can offer here is only a drop in the ocean.
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darkin
Great Newsletter, Joy...now I'm hungry. Might be time for a break and a snack
Thank you, Darkin.
As the Spanish say, my belly rules my mind, too.
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flex
This foodie edition of your newsletter whet my appetite I have to admit, that while not the biggest fan of the Harry Potter series of books, one reason why I borrowed them from the children was Rowling's ability to make my mouth water with fantasy food descriptions; the sweet shops and butterbeer had a taste all of their own.
Yes, Felix, I agree. The fantasy food was truly imaginative, spiced with a hint of humor, but then, most good writing is tinted with humor.
Thanks for the feedback.
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bookworm243
Fantastic Newsletter. I always get very creative after reading these newsletters, just because they give me great little ideas. Thanks!
Thank you, too, Airie.
The topic of food always gives me ideas, also.
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Drama: December 03, 2008 Issue [#2737]
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