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.

The quote by Laura van den Berg, “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 story’s central figures.' An ever-increasing rate-of-revelation is good; a stagnant r-of-r is not,” refers to a concept introduced by Shepard in his storytelling workshops. The rate-of-revelation (r-of-r) is a technique used in narrative storytelling that dictates how gradually and effectively emotional or crucial details about characters are unveiled to the audience. Van den Berg emphasizes how important it is for this pace to maintain momentum in order to keep the audience engaged.

By describing the rate-of-revelation as something that should be ever-increasing, Van den Berg suggests that effective storytelling thrives on the gradual unfolding of information. This pacing keeps the audience intrigued and emotionally connected to the characters as they learn more about their complexities and vulnerabilities over time. If the pace slows down or stagnates, the narrative risks losing its emotional power, leaving the audience disconnected or uninterested.

The idea of learning crucial emotional details about the characters aligns with the concept of building emotional depth. It highlights that storytelling isn’t just about conveying facts but revealing the emotional essence of the characters, and how those revelations shape the audience's understanding and empathy for them.

In essence, Laura van den Berg’s explanation of the rate-of-revelation underscores the importance of pacing in storytelling. The gradual disclosure of emotional layers in a character helps create dynamic and engaging narratives. Shepard’s concept, as emphasized by van den Berg, teaches that a successful story keeps evolving and deepening its characters, rather than remaining stagnant or predictable, ensuring a powerful emotional connection with the audience.