How to keep your readers turning pages instead of checking their notifications

#writingcommunity  #booksky #amwriting  #writing Unfetterred Treacle on Substack

Let’s talk about pacing.

Not the kind you do in your kitchen while waiting for the kettle to boil and wondering if your protagonist is boring.

I mean the heartbeat of your story. The rhythm. The momentum. The thing that keeps readers saying, “Just one more chapter,” and then suddenly it’s 2:47 a.m. and they’re cursing themselves for a lack of self-control.

If your pacing’s off, your story drags. Or it rushes. Or worse, it runs in place like a caffeinated hamster.

So how do you get it right?

1. In Late, Out Early

This is the golden rule of scene work. Don’t spend five paragraphs describing how someone gets out of their car, walks to the door, and opens it, unless they’re defusing a bomb with every step.

Get in after the boring parts. Start with the tension already in the air. And when the scene has done its job? Leave. Don’t linger. No long goodbyes. Exit like a movie star in sunglasses.

Think of each scene like a party. Arrive just as the drama starts, and ghost as soon as things calm down.

2. Every Scene Should Earn Its Keep

Every scene should do at least one of these things:

Move the plotReveal characterRaise the stakesDeliver conflict

If it does all four? Gold star. But if it does none of these? You probably need to cut it. Or combine it with another scene that’s doing the work.

If your character is just drinking coffee and reflecting on life for three pages, make sure there’s a sniper outside the window, a betrayal in the works, or a confession brewing with that latte.

3. Conflict is the Fuel

Stories are made of people who want things and can’t get them easily. That’s conflict. Every character should want something, even if it’s just a glass of water or the last word in an argument.

When wants collide, tension crackles. Even quiet scenes get electricity when people are at odds.

Want your pace to hum? Keep the wants alive. Keep the obstacles real.

4. Snappy Dialogue is a Shortcut to Speed

Good dialogue is like a back-and-forth tennis match. Bad dialogue is like a very polite game of lawn bowls.

Keep it tight. Let characters interrupt, miscommunicate, talk past each other. Let them want things mid-conversation.

And if you can slip in subtext, humor, or a sucker punch while doing it? Chef’s kiss.

5. Thrillers Need Rest Stops

Even roller coasters have a pause at the top of the hill.

If you’re writing high-octane fiction, thrillers, action, or even emotional drama, moments of stillness are essential. They let readers breathe. They give contrast to the chaos. They allow tension to rebuild before the next drop.

Without breathers, readers burn out. Or worse, stop caring.

So, throw in a quiet beat. A human moment. A flashlight-lit heart-to-heart in the middle of the storm. Then yank the floor out again.

And Then There’s the Saggy Middle…

You close in on the halfway mark and that story that was chugging along so confidently … then slumps. You lose steam. The plot feels soft. You question everything, especially whether this book is even worth finishing.

You, my friend, have encountered the Saggy Middle.

This idea, and the smart advice below, comes courtesy of bestselling author Alessandra Torre via her excellent Inkerscon newsletter. She outlines common causes of saggy middles and, more importantly, how to fix them.

Here’s the gist:

What Causes Saggy Middle Syndrome?

Weak Stakes – Your character’s problem just isn’t dire enough.Passive Protagonist – They’re reacting, not acting.No Midpoint Reversal – The story stays on the same rails instead of veering off dramatically.Repetitive Scenes – Plot is circling instead of climbing.Wandering Subplots – They’re there, but no one knows why.

Sound familiar? It doesn’t mean your book is broken. But it does mean it’s time to pour gas back into the story.

Five Ways to Fix Your Middle

Drop a Midpoint Bomb
Add a twist, a betrayal, a dead body, a long-lost sibling. Something that forces everyone to recalibrate. This recharges momentum instantly.Raise the Stakes
Make the consequences of failure worse. Internal, external, romantic, whatever works. Just make your character sweat.Force Hard Choices
Stop letting your main character drift. Put a fork in the road. Choices reveal character and ripple through the plot.Add Complications That Matter
Don’t just make your character late for work, introduce a problem that redefines what they want or how they’ll get it.Tighten Threads
Subplots should start converging. Every scene should pull double duty, character and plot.

(Torre even suggests making a list of everything you need to reveal before the climax. It’s like breadcrumbs for your brain.)

Final Takeaway

Whether you’re fine-tuning a thriller or polishing your cozy fantasy, pacing matters at every level, scene, chapter, and arc. If your middle gets mushy, it’s not a sign you should quit. It’s a signal to raise the stakes, deepen the conflict, and let your characters surprise you.

Big thanks to Alessandra Torre for letting us peek under the hood of the saggy middle. You can find more of her sharp, honest writing advice at Inkerscon.

And hey, if your pacing feels like it’s limping along, just remember:

Even a roller coaster has slow climbs…
…right before the biggest drop.

TL;DR
Pacing isn’t about writing fast, it’s about writing purposefully. Every beat should matter. Every scene should crackle. Every page should pull the reader forward, even in the quiet parts.

Keep things lean. Keep things moving. And for the love of story, don’t let your protagonist spend two pages brushing their teeth (unless it’s a high-stakes dental showdown and the villain is hiding in the medicine cabinet).

September 18, 2025Still Rock and Roll: The Impact of Billy JoelFrom The Lost Souls to Madison Square Garden #writingcommunity  #booksky #amwriting  #writing Unfetterred Treacle on Substack In … September 16, 2025Don’t Let Chapter One Kill Your BookYour beginning matters, but not as much as finishing the damn story … September 11, 2025When the Blackbird SingsMy Blackbird Tattoo: A Tribute to Love and Loss My Blackbird Tattoo, … September 9, 2025Yes, It’s All Been Done. So What?When it feels like every story has already been told, tell yours …