I’m Writing A Book About Two Characters Falling In Love While Dealing With There Different Mental Health

I’m writing a book about two characters falling in love while dealing with there different mental health problems. As someone who has mental health problems, I want to be real about it but I’m also scared I’m moving my story too fast. Any tips on how to check if your story is going to fast

The general pacing of story typically relies on the depth of events, which is not to be confused with number of events. They are related, however. You can have:

A story with a lot of events that goes into depth of the events (longer story, slower pace)

A story with a lot of events that does not go into depth (longer story, faster pace)

A story with fewer events that goes into depth  of the events(shorter story, slower pace)

A story with fewer events that does not go into depth (shorter story, faster pace)

None of those are necessarily bad, but the kind of story and specific plot the writer has in mind can help determine which place on the + chart that the story should fall. Ideally, the pacing should actually vary per what the event is, but there will still be an overall trend. A story shouldn’t give as much attention to a pit stop as it would to the climax. 

Here’s a post on pacing individual scenes. (link embedded)

Checking for pacing can be a little tough, since a lot of the skill comes from general experience with many types of stories, which contributes to knowing how things should be and how to get them there. You ask specifically about checking for a fast pace, so here are some tips, but they are in no way a substitute for a beta reader who has fresh eyes and can give you an objective evaluation:

Look at the word count of your scenes, then look at the context of that word count. If your important scenes have similar word count to the less-important ones, your story may be too fast. Important scenes should naturally have more exploration which would slow them down.

Check to see if you’re telling, not showing, specifically for things that matter. Telling speeds stories up, and while it isn’t always a bad thing since some things need to be summarized, too much can make a story too fast. Showing helps make scenes more vivid and interesting, and naturally slows pacing because it takes up much more room.

A bit more about show, don’t tell (link embedded)

Three Signs That Mean You’re Telling, Not Showing (link embedded)

Do you have intermediate scenes between major events? Some stories don’t need them, particularity plot-focused ones, but a romance should be more character-focused and therefore should have intermediate scenes.They’re typically less-meaningful scenes than direct plot events, but can help show the depth of characters and help set up major events in the story, particularly if an occurrence needs some form of set-up to make sense and not seem like it’s overly convenient or coming out of nowhere.

Do you have subplots and actual obstacles? Subplots and other obstacles naturally slow down pacing, so a story without them is going to move along very quickly. The key to working well with subplots and obstacles is that they have to tie into the main plot and they actually have to provide struggle for the characters.They are not to be treated as “filler”.

What’s your ratio of dialogue-description-exposition? A well-balanced story is a well-paced one, and dialogue should only be about 40-60% of the story. Any more and it’s very likely that a story would be read too quickly and fail to . D-D-E should be interwoven throughout a story and each scene.

Can you picture the scene with what you write? Related to the previous point, description helps give the reader a mental image of what’s happening. Only read what you’ve written, not how you imagined the scene to play out, then evaluate if you can properly envision the setting, characters, and occurrences. Not enough description often means too fast of a pace.

Good luck with your pacing!

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More Posts from Larrybell and Others

5 years ago

Doing online classes really just be like *has a list of assignments* *have no motivation what so ever* *watch random youtube videos* *stresses* *looks at assignment list again* *stresses more* *eat a snack* *sudden burst of productivity that last only about five minutes* *rewards self by checking phone* *stresses*

4 years ago

If you’ve been following this blog for a while now, you know that I’m a big sucker for Dragon Age and I’ve been thinking about a Critical Role Dragon Age AU forever now. So here are my thoughts:

Jester is an apostate mage who has been hidden away by her mother for all her life. While her mother entertains the Orlesian nobility as a minstrel extraordinaire, her daughter practices magic alone in her room. Sometimes she can swear that there’s a voice speaking to her, a Spirit of Mirth, who encourages her to play magic pranks on some of the visiting nobility.

Beau has been given to The Seekers of Truth at a very young age. She was forced to undergo strict and hard training for almost all her life, but failed her vigil at the end of her training. Her mentor saw her potential and while Beau was officially let go from the Seekers, she still has the mission her mentor gave her, to root out corruption and keep an eye on the Templars.

Caleb is one of the youngest apprentices to become Enchanter in the Circle of Minrathous. While his parents come from a humble background, his magical talents start propelling their prestige in the Tevinter Imperium. When Magister Trent Ikithon takes Caleb and two of his talented friends under his wing, Caleb is proud–but Trent’s fanatical beliefs in the restoration of the past greatness of the Tevinter Imperium causes him to murder his parents to prove his loyalty.

Yasha is an Avvar Warrior worshiping The Lady of The Skies even after she got cast out from her tribe for falling in love and marrying a member of a rivaling tribe in secret. After her wife got killed for the transgression, Yasha now roams the Frostback Mountains to find new purpose in life, eventually meeting a clan of Chasind in the Korcari Wilds and becoming fast friends with a strange fellow named Mollymauk.

Mollymauk is a mysterious entity with an appearance similar to that of a Desire Demon and with Blood Magic powers. While he has no idea why he looks like he does and where his powers come from, he made a home among the Chasind who took him in after they found him sitting beside an empty grave. Despite not being an elf, Mollymauk worships the elven goddess Mythal, something he mostly keeps hidden.

Caduceus hails from Nevarra where his family is made up of the descendants of Mortalitasi. Instead of caring for the Nevarran nobility, they strive to care for the little people in death, running their own cemetery. While conversing with the spirits, they distance themselves from the Nevarran practice of drawing wisps across The Veil to bind them to corpses. Instead they help ordinary people bury their dead in dignity.

Fjord originally hails from Denerim where he grew up in one of the many orphanages. As a human with obvious Qunari descendants, Fjord was always feared as being a bloodthirsty monster. When he was old enough, he left Denerim and hired onto one of Amaranthine’s ships where he eventually met Vandren. Desperate to find out more about his heritage, Fjord always longed to meet a full blood Qunari.

Nott came from the mining cast in Orzammar and married one of the foremost experts of Lyrium mining and refining known in the Dwarven capital. After an accident in the Deep Roads Nott is hurt by a group of Darkspawn, causing her to catch the taint. To save her she is made a a Grey Warden and joins the Legion of the Dead, leaving her husband and son behind. But Nott is not able to let go of her old life and when she hears that her husband has been kidnapped by Venatori, she defects from the Legion and goes to the surface to save Yeza.

5 years ago

No one prepares you for how triggering classes can be when you’re a sex repulsed asexual in health sciences and have to study anatomy and STIs and the mechanisms of disease and injury and look at puss filled, disfigured genitalia for hours at a time...

And it sucks how ppl don’t always get how that can be so difficult


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4 years ago

If I had a nickel for everytime I simped over..

An elf with very questionable morals

Who cares deeply for some of the party members

Was manipulating everyone for their own gain until the started to trust someone

Wants to reverse something they did in the past

And is proficient in magic

Id have two nickels, which isn't a lot but its weird that it happened twice

5 years ago

Coleridge x Wordsworth

WHY DO PEOPLE NOT SHIP WORDSWORTH AND COLERIDGE.

- met and instantly connected

- fucking followed each other across the country for years. First coleridge moved to be with Wordsworth, then Wordsworth to coleridge. One of them got kicked out of town (because drama) and the other followed and like, come on. Just cuz your bff has to move like an hour away you don’t pack up your life and follow them. 

- Dorothy wrote about how they met literally everyday and talked about poetry and philosophy and COMPLETED EACH OTHER’S WORKS because they were that in sync

- they made a book of poetry together. personal and professionally compatible. Lyrical ballads, the iconic collab.

- the authorities actually got involved because neighbours were super suspicious they were political radicals plotting something and, no, not at the moment, but you know valid concern with these guys. If rainbow rowell has taught me anything it’s that “plotting” really means “gay” and given the time calling the authorities on the super domestic and romantic guys next door really isn’t that far off

- and like “This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison”?? I know Coleridge directly refers to Charles Lamb but like. If you were pining and trying not to broadcast your sexuality to the world including your wife wouldn’t you be a little subversive? He’s just whining lovingly about not being able to go for a walk together and how Nature will bring them together in spirit and if that’s not the sweetest, tragically gay thing ever. 

- their relationship really fell apart once Wordsworth finally got married and he got fed up with Coleridge’s opium addiction and constant womanizing

- they lived the rest of their lives very publicly hating their wives and not really speaking

- I just gotta add Wordsworth and Dorothy? THE BEST SIBLINGS EVER. 

(this has been the most distracting thing ever while trying to study them for my romantic lit final pls tell me I’m not the only one)


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4 years ago

Yes, exactly!! I’ve always loved fenhawke but they came to mean even more to me after getting out of an abusive relationship myself, and I admire Fenris’s arc so so much more. He really is probably my favorite DA character next to Zevran

Oh handshake and a hug anon, I am also a survivor of abuse and sending all my love to you. 

One of the things that I really love about DA:2 is how much not only does Hawke change, but also how much companions change and develop. They are their own people, away from Hawke.

Aveline doesn’t need Hawke in order to become Guard Captain. Anders doesn’t need Hawke in order to start the revolution. Merrill doesn’t need Hawke in order to repair the eluvian. Varric was always eventually going to find someone to go to the Deep Roads. Sebastian was going to track down the mercenaries if no one else did. I’ve no doubt Fenris would have accomplished what he wanted on his own as well but a key thing to this is - Hawke helps. 

They don’t have a magic solution, they don’t immediately fix things. Aveline asks Hawke to help her on a suspicious patrol. Anders asks Hawke to help him find ingredients. Sebastian asks Hawke to come with him to the Harimann estate. Merrill asks Hawke to help her talk to the Keeper. Varric asks Hawke to come to the Deep Roads.

The companions follow Hawke because Hawke has asked for their help and because they are friends. They don’t do things and change because of Hawke. 

They all subtly develop over the course of the game, having and pursuing their own goals as well as helping each other. In the beginning, Fenris charges into Danarius’s mansion yelling he’s not afraid but by the third act - Fenris asks Hawke for their help, tells them it would mean a lot to him, and admits that he is afraid.

Yes, Exactly!! I’ve Always Loved Fenhawke But They Came To Mean Even More To Me After Getting Out Of
8 years ago
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose
B.A.P - Rose

B.A.P - Rose

5 years ago

why would Jon join the fucking NIGHTS WATCH when there are NO MORE THREATHS beyond the wall, NO MORE MEN to command and the biggest fucking thingof all this coctail of fuckery,

THEY DONT HAVE A FUCKING WALL TO BEGIN WITH

BITCH

4 years ago

with the whole “keats wanted to fight everyone” stuff going around i feel like we tend to neglect the fact that sometimes his fighting had good and just causes such as this

image

imagine being a butcher’s boy just trying to live your worst and meanest life as the neighbourhood bully in 19th century london & this 5 ft wisp of a poet is like ok that’s it you better square up

6 years ago

Tyrion: I wish Father was here.

Jaime:

Tyrion: I Wish Father Was Here.
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larrybell - Where Is My Thunderstorm?
Where Is My Thunderstorm?

A lil bit of this, a lil bit of that. Brought to you by a queer, drama/Kpop obsessed, dnd loving, health sci uni student who should really be trying to study 😅

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