Hello!
I sent an agent the first chapter and a synopsis of my fiction manuscript, and actually got some feedback as opposed to straight rejection - hooray, right?
Well, the feedback was that my story "may lack pace", and they would be open to seeing a revision. Thing is, as they only read the first chapter, that must mean the pacing issue is flagged in the synopsis, and I just don't know where to start! Is it a good idea to go back to the agent and ask for more info, or is it unrealistic they will provide me with further suggestion?
Kate, I have no idea of the genre of your novel.
My novel is a historical action adventure, so I have to keep the storyline moving quickly. I cannot afford to have my characters standing round doing nothing.The storyline and plot have to progress faster than in other genres.
It's a question of balance according the genre. Long sentences and lengthy descriptions kill action scenes, whereas short, sharp sentences add pace, as does crisp, blunt dialogue.
Ask yourself, does the dialogue earn its keep. Is it relevant? Does it advance the plot and storyline? What does each character gain out of their conversation? Is there tension between them?
I suggest you check your descriptions and dialogue. You may find that less is more and your style is pacier.
Below are several tips that may already be obvious to you.
Steam in medias res. Introduce the protagonist as early as possible. What is it that your protagonist hopes to achieve by the end of the novel? Drip-feed a few details about him/her through his/her sensory perceptions, dialogue, or streams-of-thought. Give the reader a puzzle to solve on the first page. Also, ground the reader in the setting. What time and place is your novel set?
I hope that helps.
Good liuck.
Thanks Lorraine, that really helps! Maybe I will give it a couple of days to ponder and if I am still stumped, I will ask. Don't want to mess things up with them!
'May lack pace' is rather wishy-washy, isn't it? They like the idea, and they obviously think that your first chapter shows merit, so I can only think that your synopsis is either too vague, as though you're not sure what happens at some points, or that nothing much happens throughout.
You could try asking for clarification, as all they have said is that there is a possibility that it will lack pace - they don't seem to know. What is it that they want you to revise - the whole thing, the first chapter, or the synopsis?
Have a look through your novel: are there weak points? Does the story flow? Do your characters move through and with the plot at a reasonable pace, or are there dead moments where you're not quite sure what they are doing? is there enough to sustain a full-length novel?
Does your synopsis sound confident? Does it imply that you know what happens, right up to the end, or that you haven't quite decided yet?
See if you can see what they're on about; but if all else fails, ask.