I love the way Abbie consistently puts out useful and entertaining content without needing to weigh in on every controversial topic being played out in the world. That is why every video on this channel will remain relevant many years from today. Thank you and keep it up.
@@katgreer6113 Kate and Abbie are super-focussed on the craft, and I'm grateful for that. Would kind of defeat the point I was making if I started to list the politics, discourse or scandals that I find off-putting :).
@katgreer6113 probably things like trigger warnings, any real world politics, personal attacks on other writers, commentary on AI or other writing sites
Same honestly. It's really all context-dependent though. First one is a clean, easy victory, second one feels like a tense face-off, maybe between rivals.
Same. The "slow pacing" pulled me into the story. I could envision it and felt more invested in what felt like an actual story. The fast paced scene felt like a summary list of how the fight went. It doesn't feel like either me or the character is experiencing a fight.
I think it's because there's no "one size fit all". Slow pacing could be good for important fight with emotions, not so easy victory. Fast pacing is better for quicker fight in the middle of action. It all depends on what do you want to show.
From the slow-paced action fight scene example I liked the line: "Each strike lands with a satisfying thud." I feel like these few words could be added to the fast-paced version, adding some internal emotion (conveying the character's feeling of accomplishment) without really slowing down the pacing. Thank you for your videos, Abbie!
I actually really like the "wrong" version/slow pacing of the fight scene. While I would agree entirely that they might lend themselves way more to different genres/feelings. When you read the fight scene around 6:05 I really felt it was way more psychological thriller/fantasy than the first one which I'd say could be slotted into many genres. A great video nonetheless!
I think it also depends on the goal of the fight scene. I am writing a fantasy novel and there's one particular fight that initially happens really fast-paced like the first 'good' example, and then slows down considerably when the tides turn against the MC's favour and he sees one of his friends die right in front of him. Basically as the panic sets in and his group of friends starts to lose, the battle slows down.
I think it depends on the effect you wanna give. I say you can use both versions to manipulate the "time perception" sort to speak. Like you could use the "wrong" version for a "Saving Private Ryan" moment when the character is disoriented or something, and then switch back to the "right" version when getting back to action.
Funny you should say that. I had the same reaction with the ''right slow/pace" and "wrong slow pace" examples. I found the fast-paced one much more emotionally punchy than the first example, contrary to what Abbie says. All this too say it's all subjective and it all depends on the actual style you prefer and what you want to achieve, as Abbie says.
There was this intense scene in a book that was kinda grabbing me and keeping me at gunpoint. The protagonist had to cross a wall to escape some grunts, she was scarred by a big dog bite that was still bleeding and there was this mixture of adrenaline pushing her to do actions she normally wouldn't have done, and moments of clarity where all the pain and fatigue built up, making the pace slower. I feel like the writer masterfully controlled the pacing by alternating moments of confidence to moments of terror as she didn't know if she could do it or not. I felt like I was was there with her, checking if those grunts were even catching up with her. I was like Damn. Good pacing and descriptions can really make you feel this anxious. I obviously rewinded and re-read the scene multiple times and took notes
Don't mean to be annoying, but the past tense of 'rewind' is 'rewound.' Excellent example, though! What's the book and author? ===========================================================================================================================
@@srinivastatachar4951 dw you're not being annoying. I don't live in an English speaking country so I might mess something up, so thx for correcting me The book is a bit of an old one, I got it from my brother since I recently started reading more It's called imperial spy by Mark Robson, I think, it has a different name in my language. The wall climbing scene is at chapter 4 of the book, I think it is the first one. Not really sure, cause it is a saga and I lost touch with it. It is something like 17 years old or so after all The cover features a girl with a jeweled red cloth on her head, brown gloves and a long curved sword pointed downwards. Blue eyes, long striped dress and a dagger in a decorated sheath
@@gabrieleriva_bboykappside Thank you so much for that description! I'll look it up; sounds like it's worth a read! ======================================
finally broke from my writer's block after several months. This is a great video to watch to get some tips and jumpstart my afternoon writing spree. Thanks Abbie Emmons.
Abbie I have made a whole journal about your video lessons. It finished and have started the second one, I have learned a lot about story from you and you always bring something valuable tn the table
Tbh I need to do exactly this. I watch a lot of these videos during slow times at work but can't really take active notes. Need to start rewatching later or something...
I've always enjoyed varying the pacing in my writing. I have novel beginnings that start fast, and others that start slow. It all depends on the character I'm following, and the context of the scene, of course!
As far as the fight scene is concerned, however, you can definitely achieve different things with a fast/slow pace. While the fast tempo is better for a surprising fight, I would tend towards the slow tempo for a fight that you have trained for in order to show that the individual punches, kicks and maneuvers have been worked out.
William Shatner used this effectively in one of his post Generations Star Trek novels, Kirk now older and physically limited is fighting a younger fitter opponent and the pacing shows how Kirk is able to use experience and his opponent's eagerness to prevail
I try to make my pacing deliberate. My default is to describe a lot. To mitigate this, I put in my scene to introduce one of my MCs(the things that are important to the plot, in his view point of what is important to him. For example: he’s just left a council meeting and is really only going to notice the effects of the things they were just discussing in the streets. For my writing style(which I’m still developing) it makes sense for me to do it.
I like when the pacing changes according to the scene. You don't want pacing to go slow when it's an action sequence or go too fast when you need to know what's going on first.
I've noticed in my current story that I've needed to "pick up the pace" regarding the plot. This video will help me even more. I prefer a combination of both types, because I like doing action scenes, but I don't want it to be a action story page after page, chapter after chapter. Also 16:52 is so me. 😁
Abbie the timing of this was CRAZY! I am in a creative writing school and last night my editing not was my dragged pacing. I was just praying for wisdom on how to edit the story and write the next one better, and when I renewed my RU-vid feed, this was my top recommendation! Thank you for this insightful video! Literally an answered prayer😭🙏💖
What I used once/like to use is if the characters are arguing, I try to write quickly, to give the feel of not thinking before speaking/cutting each other off.
There's one case when an action scene can have low tempo, even go in slow motion... the slow motion "car crash". The plot point or even climactic moment where everything is in the balance can definitely be drawn out and detailed with all levels of story telling (emotions, thoughts, descriptions, etc.) In this case, suspense will carry the scene instead of tempo. (Because, hopefully this dreadful event happens to story people we care about...)
I do wonder if I’m going at a good pace. At first when writing I realized that I was doing more world building than a character focus. I hope I’m not bogging down my readers when this is complete
I think the fast pacing lighthouse version could work, but it gives a completely different impression. The slow pacing of the book version makes me feel the searcher really does care and even not knowing anything about the story I feel the need for the one searched for to turn up back at the light house, or at least not to be dead. The fast paced version makes you think the searcher does not care and did not want to go look, you feel annoyed at her lack of concern. Both would work, but the second would be a completely story. When you write a scene you have narrative, plot, character and emotional goals; your video has helped me begin to work through how pacing can deliver those things. Thank you.
Slow pacing can also work in select parts of a fast paced fight, making it a sort of slow motion focus mode on a specific move or action (especially if it actually feels like slow motion to the protagonist)
Very helpful, this is something I have been thinking about lately I have been working on an action mystery thriller and I have been trying to build tension and raise the stakes going action reactions investigation choices and consequences but in a middle chapter I wanted to give the characters and the readers a chance to breathe and absorb the first half of the story (the first encounters with the antagonistic forces do not go well for the heroes) the video helps remind me that how the characters handle defeat isn't a distraction from the story it is the story
I don't know what is in your videos, I watched so many author advice videos, but only yours makes it easy to understand, and for someone with anxiety your videos are the best option. I get confused alot on book genres. I don't think of it as a major problem, but I find myself misplacing my ideas into the wrong genres. Could you please explain the genres in the writing industry ❤
This talk helped me prepare for the Three Stooges novella experiment. The narrator is the boss who hires them to fix a leaky faucet. Just kidding. Good show.
Everything went so fast. As I was delivered the kick, he fell face first. But then I will never forget this moment. As I was raising my hands in victory, I felt a sharp pain in my knee as I turned around, I got hit, and I bounced back. The masked figure pushed me, and as I stumbled to the fence, everything went into slow motion as I got pushed off from the roof. As I was falling down my face first , I used my hand to take the shock, and my hand's bones were crushed into the asphalt. My dreams of making it to the finals were crushed like my hand. Every bit of pain seemed like an eternity ... Remember passing out and waking up ...
excellent video and this is what obvioulsy make a writer this is the second hurdle the first was dialogue which through me, where as this takes a very sharp focused mind, well done
This is so true. It pacing depends on the book and scene. My first books were fast pace. Now my recent books are more slow burn. I have fighting scenes or car chase scenes and they are fast pace. This video is helpful.
Abbie please stop using your own work as examples of what to do. I'm sure your work is great but I can't trust your judgement when it comes to your own stuff, there's always going to be a bias. I know a lot of other writing tubers do that even though I don't think they should
Hi, I'm 13 and have a published story. Currently writing my debut novel. You've helped me sooo much! I watch your videos every day before writing. Is it ok if I mention ur name in the acknowledgements part of my book? Love from India
In the fight example, the slow pacing might also work if the POV is talented, thus able to slow down the action for himself. For him, time is compressed with the last moment, this moment, and the next several moments happening all at the same time within his mind. Meanwhile, his opponent might still be stuck processing what just happened while being unready for the current moment and blind to the next moments. Between two competent fighters it would be visually slow with a build up of potential energy that explodes in sudden extended intensity before being slowed again by a more effective defense.
I'm not bored by the boxing match. It feels like what a boxing match looks like. Deliberate, calculating, as they maneuver for advantage, looking for openings. The fast example was more of a street fight or a youthful scrap. No real thought; just action and reaction. One is Frazier-Ali, the other is Wes and Rudy. A different pace for a different kind of fight.
Abbie, I love your videos! Could you make a video about mistakes or pitfalls that new writers make when creating villains? Like, exploring the do's and don'ts on writing villains / antagonists? You could also give us story examples of well-written and poorly-written villains.
I think "slow-pacing" for an action scene should resemble slow-motion. It's a technique to emphasize a certain action and maybe explain the strategy behind each action. Giving the character's internal thoughts provides an opportunity to an unexpected defeat land harder as the reader internalizes the speakers confidence. There must be other examples of where you'd want to slow down the pace of the fight.
Brilliant - thanks for the pointers and samples. Would also love to see you discuss pacing overall - how to pace the entire book/plot. I worry that I tend to pace the whole book too fast, but I get hung up on word count and seem to cut out a lot of the "junk" (which isn't really junk) to keep from being overly wordy.
Hiii! I really want to thank you for your content! I remember when I was struggling to write a short story at twelve now at fourteen I have writen two novels and three novellas. Thank you for your help!🎉
I'm more of a skower6in depth reader/writer. Almost a Tolkienesk tyoe. I live the flowing kyrical almost poetic style. I really like to take the time to get to know the character. But there are also times that call for a more fast pace movement, such as action scenes or when you're just trying to fit as much goings-on in a day without dragging it on and on and on to the point if boredom. I recently read a book recommended to me by a friend that I just felt the pacing was way to fast and their was as much character development for the protagonist but all the side characters had amazing personality. I felt like it was a book written for someone with ADHD and not someone like me who wants to feel what the character feels aside from lust and anger. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned and like reading the classics better than the modern fiction.
I have done a lot of martial arts and i personally think description of the fight is neededm its an art and the littlest mistake make all the difference. So if your writing a truly fledged out fight with Wing chun style its really important to add the detailed descriptions of each movement to know whats going on.
The perfect video for me now- even if, most of the time, I know how to balance them. Edit: 4:47- But this one is pretty OK for me- if the scenes that are before and after it have too much tension in them, it can help the reader "charge" for the rest of the action.
There is a great fight scene in which Robert Downey Jr. playing Sherlock Holmes simultaneously slows down every action and puts you in the fight. It is in his very short descriptions of each action back to back without emotion that does it. I have been in real fights in my life and this sort of stop motion filming is exactly what it's like...particularly after the fact. While you are in it, there isn't much thought happening, it's all action even in longer fights. If you take a blow, time slows for a moment and then speeds back up.
@@ariesmarsexpress No, I did mean that in a literal sense. I have a scene in my own novel, a dark fantasy one, where my MC fights a giant, house-sized spider in a dark cavern, one that breathes fire, and ignites the ground by covering it with black tar. I essentially borrowed a Dark Souls boss monster fight for my book, since my book is heavily inspired by the SoulsBourne video games
@6:28 The writing in both paragraphs is really good. The fast paces one is punchy ( no pun intended) buuuut I also liked theslower paced one, for a diffefent reason. I pictured the surroundings and scene wheras I didn't in the first one. And also here you explain that we see and feel more for the first one...that wasn't tr7e for me. I enjoyed the pace of 1. But actually 2 was more memorable and I had a sense 9f WHO it was happening to and they mattered. There was no sense of who mattering in 1! Just my obbvservation, which interested me
Still working on my first novel, which is a slow burn. I'm worried about that because it seems to be taking ages to get to the main inciting incident. There are smaller incidents along the way, but I'm worried that the pace will be too slow and readers might get bored along the way and not stick with it 🤔
Shorter sentences decrease pacing, because we stop longer at a period than at a coma. Long sentences filled with comas and semicolons are faster, if you don't add much adjectives and adverbs.
i m 13 and i m gong to publish my first novel in around 2 months.. i wanted to ask if this pacing was right. here's a extract- “Dude, what’s your problem? I’ll tell Mom it was just a joke!” I shouted, panicking. We had only 30 minutes left before we had to leave for school. Without a word, Asher quickly hid his face and bolted into the bathroom. Confused, I walked over to the cupboard to get dressed. That’s when something caught my eye. There was a damp spot under Asher’s pillow. So, he was crying all this time? The thought hit me hard, and guilt began creeping in. But just as my mind started to spiral, a sudden shriek from Aunt Bea snapped me out of it. I bolted downstairs, and Mom and I rushed into the kitchen. “What happened, Aunt Bea?!” I asked, my heart pounding. “What’s going on, Bea? What’s all this noise?!” Mom demanded, equally frantic. Rio flew in, babbling in incomprehensible gibberish. Before we could make sense of anything, Dad rushed in behind us, his face pale with worry. “What happened?!” he asked, fear in his voice. Aunt Bea pointed at Rio, her face red with anger. “That stupid bird just pooped in my favorite, special, legendary stew!” An awkward silence hung in the air as we all stared at Rio, who seemed completely unfazed by the chaos. “Really, Aunt Bea? That’s why you screamed so loudly and woke up the whole neighborhood?” Mom asked, clearly frustrated. “Can’t you just make it again?” Dad chimed in. “Yeah, you old hag,” Rio added, squawking from his perch. Unable to contain my laughter, I sprinted upstairs and buried my face in a pillow, laughing uncontrollably. Tension filled the air as Aunt Bea argued with Mom, while Dad sighed in the background, trying to stay out of it. Rio firmly sided with Mom, echoing her points with a calm "yes" each time she spoke. This only fueled Aunt Bea’s anger, her face turning red with frustration. Then, without warning, she snapped, "I don’t want that bird in my house, and no one’s getting lunch today!" Her voice cracked with emotion as she stormed off to her bedroom, leaving a heavy silence in her wake. Aw man, I thought. I really liked the stew, and now we'd be stuck with some lousy canteen food. Asher came out, curious, and asked, "What’s going on?" I explained everything, and he couldn’t hold it in any longer-he started laughing. "Man, I love that bird," he said between chuckles. "The way it gets on Aunt Bea’s nerves is priceless." He kept laughing so hard that he had to catch his breath. I shook my head, trying to hide a smile, and headed downstairs to pack our bags. just provide some feedback for improvement somewhere:)
this is a refined version from ChatGPT but most of it is my writing, only some places have been refined. and the, writing and idea is by me and the only thing refined is vocab, paragraphing and some grammar.
Hey Abbie, I’m not sure if you made a video about this yet or will even answer this question because it seems a bit stupid-but is it okay to write a story with little to no dialogue? I’ve seen multiple answers but in my context, I’m writing for a plot where dialogue is scarce. The MC distances herself from people in general, and I found the start to my story more narrative. Will a start like that keep my reader immersed for when dialogue does eventually come through? I fear that it might be too boring, and that they’ll skip lines or just drop it no matter how good the writing is.
You know, with slow pacing, I think Twilight does a really good job of this. Meyer uses slow pacing well to describe the hum-drum life of Bella. And with fight scenes, Meyer writes in flashes. Sometimes not even comprehensive because Bella (1st person pov) can't comprehend the scene either. People rat on Twilight a lot, but I think pacing is what makes the story so real-life for me. It reflects the mundane of high school really well.
