Now that I've started my historical romance manuscript, I find myself worrying a bit about pacing. Pacing is really important with novels in general, but I think they're really important in suspense and romance novels. And it's probably twice as important if you're writing romantic suspense. When should a couple get together? Where do you place the first time they kiss, or touch, or make love? Is there as such thing as moving things along too slowly or too quickly?
The obvious answer is just write whatever serves the story and whatever is rational in terms of character development. I've read novels where there's a first kiss in chapter one and in other novels the couple doesn't make love until the second-to-last chapter. But, I think lots of aspiring writers read what other writers have done and think - I'm not talented enough to get away with that. I can't the only self consciousness one.
I know, I know. I should just write what's best for the story. But I've already veered off my outline, and changing one scene has a domino effect. This isn't a bad thing or a good thing. It's too early to tell what it is exactly. I just didn't expect to change anything and I have. I'm still following my outline. It's just that every once in a while I ignore it and change something when I get bored.
How do you deal with pacing in your work?
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