Tag: Pacing

Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch: When sleepless strangers become unlikely allies

Mandy Webster

In The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch, releasing April 7, 2026, four strangers find themselves drawn together during the quietest hours of the night, gathering at an all-night diner in New York City to talk through the worries that keep them awake. What begins as a series of late-night conversations gradually turns into a fragile friendship—until one of them disappears, turning their insomnia-fueled support group into an amateur investigation.

Get your copy of The Insomniacs from my independent online bookstore today!

The setup is appealing right away. Sybil, a recently empty-nested mom; Zeke, a professional baseball player sidelined by injury; Julian, a reserved retiree trying to repair his relationship with his daughter; and Betty, the guarded diner waitress who serves their endless coffee, couldn’t be more different from one another. Yet insomnia—and the strange intimacy of late-night conversations—creates the space for them to open up in ways they can’t with the people already in their lives.

Continue reading “The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch: When sleepless strangers become unlikely allies” →
Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Harmless Women by Rebecca Sharpe: A twisty thriller with a rebellious Thelma & Louise vibe

Mandy Webster

What happens when a professional con artist finishes a job—only to walk straight into a murder scene that turns everything upside down? Harmless Women by Rebecca Sharpe, releasing April 7, 2026, is a fast-paced thriller built around a clever premise. Avalon Dale is a skilled grifter who targets wealthy victims, sedates them, drains their bank accounts, and alters their appearance so they can’t easily prove who they are when they wake up. Her latest victim is Primrose Meath, a wealthy workaholic whose chaotic personal life makes her seem like an ideal target.

Get your copy of Harmless Women from my independent online bookstore today!

By the time the story really kicks into gear, Avalon has already completed most of the job. She returns to Prim’s house to tie up loose ends and instead finds Prim’s cheating husband dead. The situation quickly spirals when a witness reports seeing a suspicious bald woman at the house, suggesting Prim may have been kidnapped. As the investigation unfolds, however, the police begin to suspect that Prim may have been involved in the scheme all along.

Continue reading “Harmless Women by Rebecca Sharpe: A twisty thriller with a rebellious Thelma & Louise vibe” →
Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan: A haunting debut where myth and fear blur in the Irish woods

Mandy Webster

Two children walk into the woods, and only one returns. From that chilling premise, The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan unfolds into an atmospheric psychological mystery that lingers long after the final page. Releasing April 7, 2026, this debut crime novel turns a rural Irish legend into something far more unsettling: a story where the real danger might be human—or something else entirely.

Get your copy of The Counting Game from my independent online bookstore today!

Set in southwest Ireland in 1995, the novel opens with the disappearance of thirteen-year-old Saoirse Kellough. She vanished while playing the so-called “Counting Game” in the forest with her younger brother, Jack. The rules are simple: go into the woods, count to ten, and stay hidden. The problem is that only Jack comes out. Worse still, he refuses to speak about what happened.

Continue reading “The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan: A haunting debut where myth and fear blur in the Irish woods” →
Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

“Breaking Up is Easy to Do”: Creating Flow in Fiction with Paragraph and Scene Breaks

Mandy Webster

In their practical and insightful book, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Browne and Dave King explore techniques that make fiction writing cleaner, clearer, and more engaging. In the chapter titled “Breaking Up is Easy to Do,” they emphasize the importance of effectively breaking up paragraphs, sentences, and scenes to improve pacing and readability. This approach, they argue, is about giving readers space to breathe, shifting focus where needed, and making complex narratives feel seamless. Let’s unpack this technique and see how it can help you build a more dynamic and reader-friendly story.

Breaking up is easy — in prose!

When Browne and King talk about “breaking up,” they refer to structuring prose in a way that maximizes clarity, flow, and impact. Often, beginning writers try to cram too much information into long paragraphs, which can overwhelm readers. Overly dense text, filled with action, introspection, and description, makes it difficult for readers to stay engaged and process what’s happening. Strategic paragraph and scene breaks, on the other hand, act as “mini-pauses,” allowing readers to absorb key moments without becoming fatigued. Here are a few reasons why breaking up your prose is essential:

Continue reading ““Breaking Up is Easy to Do”: Creating Flow in Fiction with Paragraph and Scene Breaks” →
Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

“See How It Sounds” | The Power of Reading Your Writing Aloud

Mandy Webster

In the craft of fiction writing, the written word isn’t just meant to be read with the eyes—it’s also meant to be heard, experienced through its rhythm and flow. This is where the concept of “see how it sounds” comes in, as highlighted by Renni Browne and Dave King in their classic book, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. When the authors recommend this technique, they’re talking about the transformative power of reading your work out loud, a method that can reveal issues and enhance the polish of your prose in ways silent reading might miss.

Read your work aloud to “see how it sounds!”

The phrase “see how it sounds” essentially means that a writer should read their work aloud to experience the natural flow, rhythm, and tone of their words. Browne and King suggest this approach because hearing your prose can bring out flaws that are easy to overlook on the page, such as awkward phrasing, unnatural dialogue, or monotonous sentence structures. By vocalizing your text, you gain a new perspective that engages not just your visual processing but also your auditory senses.

Continue reading ““See How It Sounds” | The Power of Reading Your Writing Aloud” →
Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

How to Improve the Pacing of Your Novel Manuscript

Mandy Webster

Pacing is a vital element of storytelling that keeps readers engaged, guiding them through your novel’s peaks and lulls with the right amount of tension and release. If pacing is too slow, readers may lose interest; if it’s too fast, they might feel lost or overwhelmed. Finding the right balance is essential to delivering a satisfying story that readers can’t put down. Below is a quick guide on how to improve the pacing of your novel manuscript, from structuring scenes to managing detail and dialogue.

Your novel isn’t a race. The pacing should ebb and flow in a way that keeps readers engaged without overwhelming them. The goal is to get the reader to “The End” at a pace that leaves them wanting to read your next book.

Use Scene Structure to Build Momentum

The structure of your scenes directly impacts pacing. To maintain momentum, try following a clear goal-conflict-outcome structure in each scene. Begin with a character’s goal, introduce obstacles or conflict, and end with a consequence or revelation. This structure not only drives the plot forward but also helps create an engaging rhythm.

Continue reading “How to Improve the Pacing of Your Novel Manuscript” →