Using Dialogue to Improve Pacing in Your Story

If you've ever felt like a story was dragging or speeding by too fast, you know the importance of pacing. Dialogue is one powerful tool for controlling a story's rhythm. Dialogue can add tension, build momentum, and keep your readers hooked when used well. Let's explore how to use dialogue to enhance pacing and make your story flow just right.

Why Pacing Matters
Pacing is the speed and rhythm of your story. It dictates how readers experience events, feel tension, and understand your characters. If your story moves too slowly, readers might lose interest. If it moves too fast, they may feel overwhelmed or miss crucial details. Dialogue is a great way to control pacing and ensure that each scene has the perfect tempo.

1. Use Quick Dialogue for Fast-Paced Scenes
When you want to speed things up, keep the dialogue short and snappy. Fast-paced scenes can be shorter speeches or lighter descriptions. Instead, quick back-and-forth exchanges between characters build tension and momentum, making readers feel like they're right in the middle of the action.

Example of Quick Dialogue for Fast Pacing:
- "Did you see it?"
- "Yeah. It's heading this way."
- "What do we do?"
- "Run."

With each line, tension builds, and the reader's heart rate picks up. Quick dialogue like this is perfect for action scenes, arguments, or any moment when you want readers to feel a sense of urgency.

2. Slow It Down with Longer Conversations
When it's time to slow down the pace, add more depth to your dialogue. Longer conversations allow characters to open up, share backstories, or reflect on recent events. This lets readers catch their breath and lets the story's emotional depth shine.

Example of Slower-Paced Dialogue:
- "I don't understand why you're doing this, Sarah."
- "Maybe it's because… for once, I want something for myself. Not for anyone else."
- "But we're in this together."
- "Are we? Because it hasn't felt that way for a long time."

This type of dialogue allows readers to explore the characters' emotions more deeply, slowing the pace in a meaningful way.

3. Let Subtext Create Tension
Only some things need to be spelt out. Letting readers read between the lines can create a sense of intrigue, which keeps them turning pages. Dialogue with subtext is when characters don't say exactly what they mean, letting the unsaid words speak louder than what's actually being said. It's perfect for adding tension without speeding up the story too much.

Example of Subtext in Dialogue:
- "Are you going to the party tonight?"
- "I wasn't invited."
- "Since when has that stopped you?"

There's a hint of tension, maybe even a conflict, without outright saying it. The subtext keeps the conversation subtle but intriguing, holding the reader's attention without moving too quickly.

4. Break Up Action with Dialogue
Dialogue can be a great way to pace action-heavy scenes, giving readers moments to breathe amid intense sequences. A well-placed line of dialogue can also reveal a character's mindset in the middle of chaos, helping readers stay connected with the story's emotional stakes.

Example of Dialogue in an Action Scene:
- She sprinted down the hall, her breath ragged.
- "Are you even keeping up?" she yelled over her shoulder.
- "Barely," he gasped, stumbling over his own feet.

In this example, the dialogue adds a pause within the action, allowing readers a split second to catch their breath without interrupting the flow of the scene.

5. Avoid Unnecessary Small Talk
While dialogue can enhance pacing, it can also slow it down too much if filled with unnecessary chit-chat. Avoid dialogue that doesn't add anything to the story or reveal something about the characters. Stick to conversations that push the plot forward or deepen character relationships.

Example of Unnecessary Small Talk:
- "How's the weather been?"
- "Not bad. A bit rainy."
- "Yeah, it's been raining a lot."

Instead, focus on what matters. Dialogue should serve a purpose, keeping the story on track and maintaining the right pacing.

Personal Anecdote: Learning to Pace with Dialogue
Early on, I needed help with pacing in my dialogue. One of my scenes was supposed to be tense, but I realised I'd bogged it down with long-winded conversations that didn't fit the moment. After feedback from a writing group, I learned to cut down on filler words and make each line purposeful. Now, I always consider my dialogue's pacing impact, whether aiming to speed things up or slow them down.

Wrap-Up: Make Dialogue Work for Your Story's Pace
Dialogue isn't just about what characters say—it's about how they say it and how it affects your story's rhythm. Using short exchanges to speed things up, allowing longer conversations to slow things down, and keeping each line purposeful, you can create dynamic dialogue that enhances your story's pacing. The next time you're writing a scene, consider how the dialogue impacts the pace and make adjustments to keep readers fully engaged.

Do you have any pacing tips or favourite examples of well-paced dialogue? Drop them in the comments!