Novel Too Slow Checklist: 10 Signs and How to Fix Each
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Your novel feels slow when readers skim or quit. This checklist pinpoints 10 common signs in your draft. Read through your chapters one by one. For each sign you spot, apply the fix right away.
Work in order. Cut weak spots first, then build momentum. Revise one chapter at a time to keep changes sharp.
1. Long descriptive passages
Pages of setting details or character backstories halt the story before action starts.
Fix: Trim descriptions to 3-5 sentences max per scene. Weave them into character actions, like a detective scanning a room while chasing a suspect.
2. Minimal dialogue
Characters think or narrate instead of talking, making pages feel static.
Fix: Add dialogue to every scene. Cut internal monologue by 50% and replace with sharp exchanges that reveal conflict.
3. Passive protagonist
Your main character reacts to events without driving them forward.
Fix: Give the protagonist one clear goal per scene. Make them act first—kick in a door, confront a liar—before others respond.
4. No stakes in scenes
Events happen without clear risk of loss, so nothing feels urgent.
Fix: State the 'what if I fail' cost at each scene's start. Tie it to the character's want, like losing a job if a deal flops.
5. Backstory dumps
Chapters pause for history lessons that stop present action.
Fix: Drip backstory in 1-2 lines per scene via dialogue or triggered memories. Delete standalone flashbacks under 500 words.
6. Repeated information
Same details about characters or world repeat across chapters.
Fix: Track mentions in a scene log. Cut duplicates; vary delivery, like showing a trait through action instead of restating it.
7. Low conflict per page
Scenes resolve too easily without opposition.
Fix: Add one obstacle per page. Force characters to improvise, like a locked door during an escape or a lie that backfires.
8. Overlong scenes
Scenes stretch past 2,000 words without advancing plot.
Fix: Split at decision points. End one scene on a question, start the next with the choice and new action.
9. Predictable beats
Plot follows expected steps without surprises.
Fix: List 3 expected outcomes per scene, then pick the worst for your protagonist. Twist one key assumption, like an ally turning foe.
10. Weak chapter endings
Chapters close on summary or calm, failing to pull readers forward.
Fix: End with a cliffhanger, revelation, or disaster. Cut the last paragraph if it wraps up neatly; rewrite to raise stakes.
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