Pacing can be one of the most elusive aspects of plotting, and often writers assume that the way to achieve effective pacing is to make as much "stuff" happen as quickly as possible. But a well-paced story is one in which the narrative unfolds at the rhythm that the characters, scenes, and themes require. And often, pacing is determined by the mechanics of how the story is told, sentence-by-sentence. Decisions as simple as word choice can have a profound effect on the flow of a story.

 In this full-day class, we will focus on the characteristics of successful structure and pacing. We'll also identify some of the sign-posts that can indicate pacing problems in a story, and we'll discuss strategies for addressing these issues in the revision stage.