Screenwriting : Pacing by Meriem Bouziani

Writing a technical scene. Not in the writing of the scene itself but in finding the right information and tone on the technical to enable it to be written/woven into the drama. For some subjects that's a huge challenge, for others it's surprisingly easy.

Hi, Meriem Bouziani! I hope you're doing well too. You're right. I'm not sure what's the most challenging aspect of writing for me. I've tried to think of one before. Sometimes it's the character arc, writing the theme without it being too heavy (unless it's supposed to be), the pacing, etc. It depends on the project.

Exactly. I think the technical scenes come with experience. So far, I feel I'm improving, especially when it comes to dramatizing scenes David Taylor

I'm doing well, thank you!

Yeah, I think the most challenging aspect can depend on the project.

For me, it's pacing because I often find that my stories reach the heavier, more dramatic moments too quickly. I actually received the same feedback on The Silent PFC War—that the opening moved too fast. Maurice Vaughan

Hi Meriem Bouziani! I struggle with pacing too, along with length. I managed to write my second screenplay at 194 pages, out of pure passion — let's be honest, that's more than a bit long for the vertical micro-drama format.

I realized I wanted to write down everything, almost every single moment, as if I were directing it too.

Now that I've cut those long descriptions and action lines and trimmed it down, it's "only" 136 pages. Still long — kind of like my learning process. I'm trying to look at the screenplay "from above," figuring out what can be left out of the script and the dialogue. I'm not giving up! :)

Meriem Bouziani

Great question! For me, pacing is closely connected to structure and character development. I’ve found that when the story and character motivations are clear, the pacing becomes much easier to control. As a script editor and story developer, that’s something I pay close attention to when working on a screenplay.

Truly so, pacing can get tricky especially if you want to try a pace unnatural to your inborn writing style.

I guess for me it’s tension lol. When I write I’m writing for me and as such I naturally don’t write what I don’t want, so adding something that I don’t want for the sake of creating tension genuinely doesn’t make sense for me. Especially if I myself don’t care about something that the audience might and vice versa. Plus, y’know, since I prefer internal conflict to external, the tension I write is similarly internal and much more subtle and everyone can miss it (for example Lunar Window had CRAZY amounts of sexual tension between Cass and John and I wonder if anyone else thought so because literally no one mentioned it ^^;).

For me it’s pacing and dialogue. Dialogue because I want so much to make sure the reader understand what is going on that I have a tendency to tell instead

of showing.

Pacing because, again as I want to provide a lot of information as to what happen, it slows down the action and tension.

That's a sharp observation, and pacing is one of the most difficult skills to develop because it's about how all the elements work together. What's the most effective way you've found to adjust the pacing of a scene without rewriting the entire sequence?

I agree with you. When a character's arc and the story structure are clear, you naturally write in a more organized way rather than arbitrarily. That also helps each scene find the exact rhythm it needs.

Alfred Johnson

Yeah, absolutely. We own our worlds, and we have every right to develop them the way we envision them. I'm starting to understand that with my new script. It's not always necessary to explain everything. Sometimes it's better to let the audience and readers interpret certain moments on their own, especially when it comes to emotions. Everyone can experience them differently.

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Yeah, I completely agree. I think every writer has a natural rhythm, and it's important not to lose your own voice. At the same time, I've also realized that each story has its own pace, so sometimes we have to step outside our comfort zone and adapt our writing to serve the story rather than ourselves.

That's one of the things I'm still learning, and I find it both challenging and fascinating

Jerry Edmund Bamutiire

I think a scene should be neither too obvious nor too mysterious. Finding the right balance is essential for strong writing.

Isla Storyforge

It also depends on the project. If you're writing hard sci-fi, the dialogue may need to be a bit more explanatory so the audience can follow the story. At the same time, you don't want it to become too on-the-nose, because that can weaken the quality of the writing.

My first script, The Silent PFC War, received an 8 for Concept and a 5 for Dialogue in the PAGE Awards. One of the main criticisms was that my dialogue was too direct. Several readers pointed out the same issue, and I completely understand why.

With my new script, Contradiction, I'm trying to rely much more on subtext and layered dialogue.

Nicolas Lavoie

I'm still learning, but I already feel I've improved at balancing scenes, writing richer location descriptions, and using subtext. My first script didn't include many descriptions of locations or characters, partly because it was hard sci-fi. This new project feels much more manageable, and I'm really enjoying the writing process.

Samantha Rivera

Pacing is quite hard. I think knowing "why" the scene is included in the script can help you determine if it needs to be longer or shorter. Was your point made? Yes, then move on. No, then get to the point. If the point is relaxation, maybe lingering in the scene is ok.

Yes, absolutely. I don't start writing until I've developed the concept thoroughly and outlined the story. That way, when I write a scene, I know exactly what its purpose is and how it serves the overall script Tamara Green

Pacing can be tricky because sometimes what feels like a pacing issue is actually a structure, scene, or character issue underneath.

A beta read can help uncover what the story really needs before deciding on the right kind of editing. Sometimes the problem isn’t where we initially think it is.

Yeah, maybe that's because if the structure and the characters aren't clear enough, the scene won't be written effectively Alfred Johnson

Exactly. That’s why I usually prefer to look at the story as a whole first. Sometimes a scene feels slow when the real issue is character motivation or structure. A good beta read can help pinpoint what’s actually holding the script back before making any editing decisions.

Meriem Bouziani

You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. Glad you're doing well! Sometimes I end a scene too quickly. I'll go back through the scene and realize I need to add more dialogue, action, etc. That might help you with the opening scene of The Silent PFC War.

Great discussion Meriem Bouziani. I love reading everyone's responses. For me? Starting the thing. LOL! I have to get into a certain head space just to get started on the script and that's going from outline to the script itself.

Good point, I definitely agree with you Christiana Williams

My second script includes a lot of emotional description, and sometimes the scenes become longer simply to convey the character's emotional state.

Thank you very much! Maurice Vaughan

I'll definitely try to do that. It was a difficult script to start with, but I learned a lot from the experience.

Thank you very much! Leonardo Ramirez

I'm so happy that you enjoy reading our responses.

I think this depends on the project itself. The crazier and more intriguing the idea is, the more it pushes you to write it.

I had many projects waiting, and I kept putting off starting my second script. But the moment the idea for Contradiction came to me, I immediately started outlining it and writing. Haha!

Love that Meriem Bouziani and you're very welcome! I think the only reason I have a tough time starting is the fear of being interrupted. I love delving in and getting lost in the narrative.

Ah, I understand now.

Yeah, it's really frustrating when you're deeply immersed in developing an idea and then get interrupted. You can even lose your train of thought.

I think having a detailed outline really helps because, whenever you come back to the script, you know exactly where you left off and what you need to write next Leonardo Ramirez

I use outlines every time Meriem Bouziani. What I don't want to lose is the nuance of the moment, a word or shift in dialogue. It's like watching a movie that you're engrossed in, a big moment is coming and a roof salesman knocks on the front door.

You're welcome, Meriem Bouziani. That's great. Writers learn things from writing scripts whether they option their scripts, sell them, etc. or not.

Yes absolutely Maurice Vaughan

Hey Meriem Bouziani, pacing can definitely take some practice. One of the hardest things I'm learning is writing for low-budget stories, and I'm also hoping to create a musical in the future, though I'll admit I'm still a bit intimidated by the process.

Great approach! Dwayne Williams

I completely agree. Starting with lower-budget, more contained projects can be a smart way to build your career, get your work produced, and grow within the industry.

It's the same for me. My second script is a contained story with limited locations and a much lower budget, so I feel more hopeful about its chances of being produced than The Silent PFC War.

Thanks, Meriem Bouziani! What's your new contained story about?

It's a contained story about four friends and parallel universes, inspired by the movie Coherence. Dwayne Williams

Yes, absolutely. Every scene should have a clear purpose so the script doesn't become just a large number of pages without meaning Elizabeth elora optirank

As a Moroccan screenwriter, I struggle with that as well. Many of my sentences still feel like direct translations rather than natural English, but little by little, I feel I'm improving Hannah Collins

My tip re pacing is to break down the scripts that serve as your comps (a line about the things that happen on each page) and see how they manage it.

Thank you very much! That's absolutely excellent advice Phoenix Black

My current script, Contradiction, is inspired by Coherence, so I'll definitely study its screenplay and analyze how it manages pacing. I think that will help me improve my own writing.