‘The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last.’-- Oscar Wilde.
Creating tension or suspense in a novel is not only limited to a thriller or horror. It can be used in any genre. Will the couple get together? Will the hero save the day? Tension is simply fear of the unknown and it leaves the reader hanging in anticipation.
First, the reader has to like the character and be invested in their success at combating the obstacle. The character has to be realistic for the reader to care emotionally what happens to them, so take time to create excellent characters, otherwise the reader will not care if they triumph or fail.
Set up a question to which the audience needs an answer. You can do this by revealing key parts to the audience, but not to the character. The reader will be wondering when the truth will be revealed to the character.
Turn up the heat, remember you are the writer and in control. So if the character looks like they are winning, throw in a roadblock that the character needs to overcome. Each time you do this, the character's situation becomes worse and seems more hopeless. I recommend this is done no more than three times before the character finally triumphs.
Set a time limit for the character to overcome the dilemma, as this will really get your reader turning those pages. There can be a decision that has to be made or an action taken, but the character has little time in which to do it.
Use tension not only in the main plot, but also in the sub-plots by using the same strategies. Tension from multiple directions really keeps the protagonist busy while the antagonist becomes more in control.
Introduce a character's weak spot or fear early on and then place the character in a situation where they have no choice but to overcome it.
Use tension building places. For example, dark alleyways, fog, storms or empty derelict houses. You can also use normal objects as long as the reader, but not the character, is aware that the object is not all it seems.
Master the art of pacing a story as this is different to tension. Pacing, when used well, can be the ultimate page turner. It is fast and to the point and there is no time for detail. The sentences' paragraphs and words must be short and to the point.
Breaks in tension are essential as otherwise the reader will be worn out. It is the calm before the storm when everything looks as if it is going to be fine, but then the next dilemma must be twice as intense as the previous problem. During these breathers you can focus on building the relationships between characters.
Cliffhangers are great to use at the end of chapters because these leave the reader asking questions. What will happen next? It doesn’t have to be a new question,just a situation with increased tension or curiosity. The cliffhanger must be resolved or answered in the next few pages of the following chapter.
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