​​Increasing Suspense

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I’m sure you all know about suspense; creating and using the technique of suspense, so this blog might appeal more to our freshman writers. When employing tension, it is essential to balance suspense and providing enough information to keep readers engaged. Too much suspense with no resolution can lead to frustration, so be sure to provide payoffs and revelations at appropriate intervals. Increasing suspense in your writing can captivate readers and keep them engaged. Here are some techniques I employ to enhance suspense:

Create a ticking clock: Introduce a time constraint or deadline that the characters must meet. This adds urgency and heightens suspense as readers wonder if they’ll succeed in time.

Foreshadowing: Hint at future events or outcomes without revealing too much. Foreshadowing, which we’ve talked about, builds anticipation and makes readers curious about what will happen next.

Raise unanswered questions: Pose intriguing questions throughout your narrative that keep readers guessing. Delaying answers builds tension and compels readers to continue reading to find out more.

Use cliffhangers: End chapters or sections with unresolved situations or unexpected twists. This leaves readers hanging and eager to find out what happens next.

Create suspenseful imagery: Use vivid and descriptive language to evoke a sense of danger, fear, or mystery. Engage readers’ senses to make them feel immersed in the suspenseful atmosphere.

Increase the stakes: Raise the potential consequences of failure for the characters. The higher the stakes, the greater the suspense as readers worry about the outcomes.

Employ pacing and rhythm: Vary the pace of your writing. Alternate between slower, more contemplative moments and fast-paced action scenes. This contrast helps build tension and suspense.

Withhold information: Reveal information gradually, only giving readers what they need to know at any given moment. Keep some secrets hidden to maintain a sense of mystery and anticipation.

Characterize your antagonist: Develop a compelling antagonist who poses a genuine threat to the protagonist. A formidable villain adds depth to the conflict and intensifies suspense.

Introduce unexpected obstacles: Throw unexpected challenges or complications on the path of your characters. This keeps readers on edge and wondering how they will overcome these new hurdles.

Remember, like beauty, suspense is in the beholder's eye. Use types of suspense that fit your genre, style, mood, voice, and so on. Also, try to vary the suspense techniques you use. The same technique, such as building and dropping pace and rhythm constantly, might be good for rollercoaster fans; but it might become a little like flashing strobe lights to others (think deer in the headlights here). Varying the use of suspense techniques also helps to create plot twists and surprises in the storyline.