I once took a workshop with Jim Shepard, and he has this…
“I once took a workshop with Jim Shepard, and he has this term, 'rate-of-revelation,' that has come to mean a lot to me: 'the pace at which we're learning crucial emotional information about the stories' central figures.' An ever-increasing rate-of-revelation is good; a stagnant r-of-r is not.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She describes “rate‑of‑revelation” as the speed at which emotional truths about characters are revealed; faster rates deepen engagement, while stagnation stalls interest.
In simple terms: Fast emotional insight keeps stories compelling.
Maintain momentum in storytelling.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- novel drafting
- script development
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you increase emotional reveal?
- What slows down character insight?
If revelation stalls, audience may disengage.