Is Your Story's Pacing TOO QUICK for Fiction Readers to Connect?

Introduction

Pacing is one of the most crucial elements of storytelling. It determines how your readers experience your book, how they connect with your characters, and whether they stay engaged. Last week, we discussed slow pacing and how to avoid sluggish storytelling. Today, we’re tackling the opposite problem—when your story is moving too fast. If your pacing is too quick, readers may struggle to connect with your characters and feel emotionally invested in the journey. Let’s dive into the causes of fast pacing and how to fix it.

Signs That Your Pacing Is Too Quick

1. Events Happen Too Quickly, Leaving Readers Uninvested

One of the biggest issues with fast pacing is that events unfold too quickly, not allowing readers to form a deep connection with your characters. If the audience doesn’t understand the stakes, motivations, or emotions driving the story, they won’t care about what happens next.

2. Emotional Beats Don’t Land

Even if you’ve structured your story with all the essential plot beats, rushing through them prevents readers from fully processing the emotions behind each moment. A well-structured story isn’t just about hitting plot points—it’s about making those moments resonate.

3. The Story Feels Rushed, Especially Before the Climax

Writers often rush toward the climax because they’re excited to reach the big moment. However, skipping necessary steps between plot points can make the story feel disjointed or illogical. Each major event should naturally flow into the next, giving readers a sense of momentum rather than a feeling of being catapulted forward.

Common Mistakes Writers Make When Trying to Fix Fast Pacing

• Adding filler scenes – Inserting unnecessary scenes just to slow things down often results in disengagement.

• Info-dumping backstory – Long expositional passages can bog the story down without improving engagement.

• Over-explaining emotions and actions – Instead of letting emotions unfold naturally, some writers compensate by telling readers what’s happening, which can feel forced and unnatural.

These solutions don’t address the core pacing problem and often introduce new storytelling issues.

How to Fix Fast Pacing in Your Story

1. Use Story Structure to Guide Your Pacing

Fast pacing often comes from missing key plot points. Using a structured approach, like the 10 Universal Plot Points, ensures that each phase of your story develops properly before moving forward.

2. Deepen Emotional Engagement Through Internal Reactions

One of the best ways to slow pacing without adding fluff is by deepening emotional engagement. When something major happens, explore the character’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Ask yourself:

• What is the character feeling in this moment?

• What are they trying to accomplish?

• How does this moment impact them emotionally?

• How do they change because of it?

  
  

3. Strengthen Cause-and-Effect Relationships Between Scenes

Every major plot event should have a clear cause-and-effect chain leading to it. If your story jumps too quickly from one event to another, it may be missing important transitional moments.

Conclusion: Slow Down Without Losing Momentum

Slowing down pacing doesn’t mean making the story boring—it means making it more immersive. By ensuring your story structure is sound, deepening emotional beats, and strengthening cause-and-effect connections, you can fix pacing that’s too quick without losing tension or engagement.

If you want to master pacing and emotional depth in storytelling, check out my 10 Universal Plot Points mini course, which provides a framework for structuring your story effectively.

Have you struggled with pacing in your writing? Let me know in the comments, and happy writing!

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