We often discuss pacing in terms of plot: A fast paced novel is a narrative where a lot happens, right? Although a product of structure, pacing is more complex than a story’s rate of action. To understand it, a fiction writer must take into account action; emotional tension and fluctuation; chapter/section, paragraph, and sentence length; and even white space. All of these elements work together to create a novel’s pace. In this workshop, we’ll discuss pacing beyond plot. We’ll look at it in terms of character development and style. We’ll look at several examples of well paced scenes and conclude with an exercise that can help you invigorate pacing without altering plotting.