Pacing

Fast Paced Slow Paced Convey the character’s sense of urgency Use strong action verbs Keep your sentences tight Slow Paced Use active verbs – leisurely ones Pace should convey the character’s reluctance Use longer sentences to convey slowness

Sarah flung her cell phone into her purse. She whirled around her desk Sarah flung her cell phone into her purse. She whirled around her desk. She had her keys, her purse. Anything else she may need would have to stay. Her brain pounded. Dad. Car Wreck. She had to get home. Now. She also had a class coming in. She turned quickly back to her desk, furiously pounding out directions to the sub. Writing day. Study Hall. Anything. She dashed down the stairs. She knew it wouldn’t be enough work. It didn’t matter. She had to get out of here. - Underline verbs and adverbs!

Sarah strolled around the classroom Sarah strolled around the classroom. The end of the day had finally arrived and she took a deep breath, breathing in the silence. She methodically straightened the desks in each row, looking to make sure they were just right. Nope, that one by the wall remained a little crooked. There just right. As she made her way to the desk Sara noticed the silence once more. The difference between 3:15 and 3:45 lingered in the quiet. She really should get to work grading those tests so she could get home before dark. But why? Her house was just as quiet as the school. The difference, however, lay in type of silence. At school it seemed as though the ghosts of the students lingered, bringing their identity and life to the hallways and classrooms. At home there were no ghosts, only Sarah. - Underline verbs and adverbs!