an easily-diagnosable problem i often see in manuscripts is when the action of the plot isn't evenly spread and there's a clear imbalance in the pacing. the solution to figuring out if you have this problem lies in

*drumroll*

your plot synopsis.

if you’re not sure how evenly-paced/substantial the action of your story is, sit down to write the dreaded synopsis and see where most the action of your story takes place as you summarize it.

some common issues i’ve noticed that suggest a pacing/action imbalance:

-when you can summarize the first 30-50% of the book in 1-2 paragraphs and then spend an entire page describing events that occur in the next 30-50% of the book

issue: your story’s taking too long to start.

-when you can summarize the last 30% of the book in 2-3 lines

issue: you drew out your ending and you took too long to wrap things up.

-when you can summarize the middle of the novel in 2-3 lines

issue: not enough happens, or there isn’t enough conflict/character growth.

ideally (although there can be exceptions) your plot synopsis should be a microcosm of the novel in structure, focusing equally on the beginning, middle, and end. if it isn’t, there’s probably an imbalance you need to identify. #writetip