When you're working with tension and suspense, you need to have a balance. That's where pacing comes in. Pacing gives your characters (and your readers) time to breathe between intense scenes filled with tension.

How does pacing affect a story?

Pacing affects the mood of your story, helps develop ideas and themes, and allows your readers to connect to the characters and the events that surround them. While it might be easy to think that a fast pace will be most effective, the truth is that it depends on the story you're telling.

What is the purpose of pacing in a story?

Pacing is a tool that controls the speed and rhythm at which a story is told and the readers are pulled through the events. It refers to how fast or slow events in a piece unfold and how much time elapses in a scene or story. Pacing can also be used to show characters aging and the effects of time on story events.