How to Structure a Story Plot: Mastering Story Pacing

Curious about how to structure a story plot to create great pacing? Rebecca reveals what makes a good writer great as she dives into what are some good storytelling techniques, explores how to write a good plot for a story, and offers tips on how to improve story writing skills.
Today, in this newest episode of 52-Week Story Savvy, Rebecca Hartwell (Hart Bound Editing) and aspiring author Agnes Wolfe (Authors’ Alcove) break down one of the trickiest parts of self-editing: pacing. Whether your story drags or moves too fast, Rebecca offers actionable steps to help you fine-tune your emotional rhythm and keep your readers turning pages.
This episode covers everything from identifying when your pacing is off to knowing how (and where) to fix it. You’ll learn how to map emotional highs and lows, structure your scenes for momentum, and avoid the burnout/boredom trap that so many stories fall into. Plus, Rebecca shares pro editor tips like using visual scene mapping, adjusting chapter structure, and avoiding info-dumping while still delivering rich story detail.
In This Episode:
How to create a visual “pacing map” of your novel using a spreadsheet
Learn how to ensure every scene moves the story forward
How to fix pacing without rewriting your entire book
Solving pacing problems
Balancing tension with calmer moments.
Recommended Resources:
Developmental Editing Services (Expert Feedback) – [https://hartboundediting.com]
Authors’ Alcove Membership Site – [http://authorsalcove.com]
Book Giveaway – [http://authorsalcove.org]
Story Grid – https://storygrid.com
Save the Cat – https://savethecat.com
[00:00] Intro
[01:28] What Is Pacing?
[03:33] How Can We Identify Overwriting and Underwriting?
[06:20] How to Know When to Create a Chapter Break, and When to Break Them?
[10:39] How Can We Prevent Our Reader from Getting Bored or Burning Out?
[15:45] What Patterns Should We Have in Emotional Pacing?
[21:52] How Do You Avoid Plodding Along?
[30:43] Actionable Steps To Correct Pacing