Writing Tips Collection: More writing tips

About knowing the past (historical / other)

The most common bias in historical records is omission, not adding things.
Identify how long has it been since the event and the time between the event and recordings.
Which recent events hold sway in that historical narrative that could impact the motivation and thinking of your characters?
People who may not have all the facts to explain why (x) happened: how do people see events that they cannot fully explain?
What happened vs what people think that happened
Don't give any major event a single cause or consequence: give it 3 causes and consequences in different dimensions. The timelines should interact.
History: how static are the records? Who records them?

Six Pillars of worldbuilding

Scene pacing & narrative pacing

Short, punchy sentences give the feel of speed
Action-reaction: the instant switch between decision and consequence compresses time -> no time to ponder
Slow pacing in moments of introspection to let the reader feel the emotional turmoil and emphasize the difficulty of character growth. Rushing through such things would make the decision or trauma feel inconsequential, or easily resolved.
You can squeeze tension out of a few seconds by stretching them / making the reader wait. Consider doing that once per scene (not too much).
Pacing is about keeping the story moving.
Good pacing is about whether the reader feels they're getting closer to the big thing.
Fast-paced beginning isn't about beginning with a fight scene, tense argument, or fast-pacing technique. It's about how quickly the author puts the reader on the track towards the big thing (done with the hook). And, after that, how quickly the reader feels that they take the next step towards the big thing.
Lack of subtext can undermine pacing, because there's less info in the same words. If used intelligently, subtexts can help the reader feel they're getting closer to the big thing.

Does the obstacle:

Writing Tips Collection