Pace is a fundamental element of writing. When you read something well-paced, you just somehow know, because you’re pulled into the story and time passes quickly. On the other hand, you can feel the drag of it when something isn’t well-paced.
But pace is rather elusive. What actually is it, and how can you improve it in your own story?
Pace operates at every level of a piece of writing, from individual sentences to the whole book. As writers we need to be aware of when something we’ve written needs slowing down and lingering over, and when it needs speeding up. We often use pace instinctively, which is great when it works; when it doesn’t, we need to figure out why, and what to do about it.
This practical workshop will break pace down and explore techniques for using it more effectively in our writing: from sentence to paragraph to scene, and beyond.
The workshop tutor is Beth Miller. Beth is the author of six novels, including the bestselling The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright (2020). Her most recent novel, The Woman Who Came Back to Life (2022), will be published in seven languages. She has also published two non-fiction books about Shakespeare and the Archers. She is a tutor on the Creative Writing MA and MFA at West Dean College, and a regular tutor for Arvon. She works as a writing mentor and book coach for writers at all stages. She has a PhD in Psychology.
The session will be held at the Jubilee Library in Brighton and will run from 10-4pm with an hour for lunch. The venue is wheelchair accessible, near the train station and bus routes and with plenty of options for lunch.
The workshop is part of a series of one-day masterclasses held this Easter. They are open to existing students on the Creative Writing Programme and other writers looking to improve specific areas of their writing craft. You can book onto as many workshops as you choose.
The Easter masterclasses run from 10-4pm each day:
• Friday 4th April – Managing Pace: Beth Miller (in-person in the Jubilee Library,Brighton) £75 including VAT.
• Saturday 5th April – Boosting your creativity: Roy McFarlane (in-person in the Jubilee Library, Brighton) £75 including VAT
• Sunday 6th April – Creating memorable characters: Laura Wilkinson (in-person in the Jubilee Library, Brighton) £75 including VAT
• Saturday 12th April: Placemaking – creating great places: Rosie Chard (online) £65 including VAT
• Sunday13th April: Imagery, Symbolism and Metaphor in Prose – John McCullough (online) £65 including VAT
First year students on the Creative Writing Programme receive two free masterclasses a year. Contact Cathy Hayward cathy@creativewritingprogramme.org.uk to book your place
Tickets are non-refundable except under exceptional circumstances. If you have any questions about these workshops, please email cathy@creativewritingprogramme.org.uk