Creative Writing Masterclass on Managing Pace

Pace is a fundamental element of writing. When you read something well-paced, you just somehow know, because you’re pulled into the story and time passes quickly. On the other hand, you can feel the drag of it when something isn’t well-paced. But pace is rather elusive. What actually is it, and how can you improve it in your own story? Pace operates at every level of a piece of writing, from individual sentences to the whole book. As writers we need to be aware of when something we’ve written needs slowing down and lingering over, and when it needs speeding up. We often use pace instinctively, which is great when it works; when it doesn’t, we need to figure out why, and what to do about it. This practical workshop will break pace down and explore techniques for using it more effectively in our writing: from sentence to paragraph to scene, and beyond.

Beth Miller is the author of seven novels, including the bestselling The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright (2020). Her most recent novel The Friendship List was published in summer 2025 while The Woman Who Came Back to Life (2022), was published in seven languages. She has also published two non-fiction books about Shakespeare and the Archers. She is a subject tutor on the Creative Writing MA and MFA at West Dean College, and a regular tutor for Arvon. She works as a writing mentor and book coach for writers at all stages. She has a PhD in Psychology.

The session will be held at the Jubilee Library in Brighton and will run from 10:15-16:15 with an hour for lunch. The venue is fully accessible, near the train station and bus routes and with plenty of options for lunch (including bringing your own). If you have any specific needs to enable you to access the workshop, please do Contact Cathy Hayward - cathy@creativewritingprogramme.org.uk

The workshop is part of a series of one-day masterclasses held in the Easter and summer holidays. They are open to existing students on the Creative Writing Programme and other writers looking to improve specific areas of their writing craft.