We often talk about power in stories as motion.
A sword swing.
A spell cast.
A decision made in a heartbeat.
But there is another kind of power—one that doesn’t rush forward. One that waits.
Some of the most compelling characters I’ve written—and read—aren’t defined by what they do immediately. They’re defined by what they don’t do yet.
Power Doesn’t Always Announce Itself
Writing culture loves urgency.
Plot fast. Decide quickly. Push the story forward.
But power doesn’t always look like action.
Sometimes power looks like a character who holds still while everything inside them is screaming to move.
A queen who doesn’t answer an insult right away.
A mage who feels magic rising—and deliberately lets it settle.
A survivor who pauses, not because they are weak, but because they are calculating, protecting, listening.
That pause is not emptiness.
It’s tension.
Characters Who Pause Instead of Act
When a character pauses, the story leans in.
Readers start asking:
- What do they know that others don’t?
- What are they weighing?
- What would happen if they acted right now?
Pausing characters often:
- See consequences others ignore
- Understand systems of power, not just moments
- Carry history, trauma, or responsibility that demands caution
Their stillness creates gravity.
They don’t rush because they don’t have to.
And that restraint can be far more unsettling—and compelling—than immediate action.
Stillness as a Deliberate Plot Choice
Stillness isn’t filler.
It’s a structural decision.
Choosing to let a scene breathe can:
- Delay an inevitable conflict to deepen its impact
- Shift focus from external events to internal stakes
- Allow subtext, emotion, and unspoken tension to surface
A pause can:
- Change the meaning of what comes next
- Reveal who truly holds power in a scene
- Give readers time to feel, not just observe
When you let a moment linger, you’re telling the reader: this matters.
Writing This Kind of Power
If you’re writing a scene where nothing “happens,” ask yourself:
- What is changing beneath the surface?
- What is being withheld—and why?
- What would be lost if the character acted too soon?
Stillness works best when it’s intentional.
Not because the story stalled—but because the character chose to wait.
Letting Yourself Write This Way, Too
This kind of storytelling mirrors real life more than we admit.
Not every moment of growth is loud.
Not every decision is immediate.
Not every form of strength announces itself.
If your writing feels slower lately, quieter, more reflective—it doesn’t mean you’ve lost momentum.
It might mean you’re writing power that waits.
And when it finally moves?
The impact is unforgettable.
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 