She could get there before closing if she hurried. If we read over the sentence and examine its structure, we see how it piles on questions before answering some. Each clause creates questions: A What was unusual?
B There were several brands of what? Delaying revelation in sentence construction and scenes is a simple yet effective way to keep your reader guessing. Yet balance building sentences like the one above with shorter, simpler ones.
If we make every sentence long and climactic, the effect starts to tire. Keep this technique for moments of high intrigue such as a detective caught in complex pondering, in piecing together evidence. Similarly, when developing a mysterious scene, delay major revelations for final paragraphs and sentences, so your reader has every reason to turn the page. Dialogue is a great device for creating implications , mysteries and inferences.
For example take this scene: A detective visits a local dive bar. This brief exchange creates immediate suspense and curiosity.
Why is the lone drinker a person of interest? Are they mixed up in dubious dealings? Or are they simply a troublemaker who might interfere in investigations? Perhaps, for example, the proprietor of the bar has personal grievances to the lone man. Great mysteries show how difficult it is to find the truth.
Because everyone has a view, an agenda, a public life, a private one. Cryptic words or phrases also help make dialogue mysterious or suspenseful. Need help developing suspense and mystery in your story? Join Now Novel for constructive feedback from the community or your own writing coach.
Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. Excellent tips for most genre. I think mystery is the root of most stories and this is an excellent primmer for the everything from big-world-building science fiction to regency romance.
Thanks for sharing. Thanks for reading. The writing style is amazing. Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint. Excellent book on these topics. Lukeman, Noah The Plot Thickens. Lyon, Elizabeth Perigee Trade. In my view, the best book on revision and self-editing. Maass, Donald The Fire in Fiction. He identifies the problems his agency sees over and over again in manuscripts and tells you how to fix them.
A fantastic book. Pattison, Darcy. Suspense: 10 Tips to Grabbing Your Reader! Snyder, Blake Michael Wise Productions. Truby, John Faber and Faber. A fascinating and insightful book.
Vorhaus, John The Comic Toolbox. Silman James Press. Not just the best book on comic writing, but better than all the others put together.
Also, 6 Secrets to Creating and Sustaining Suspense. Follow Keep in contact through the following social networks or via RSS feed:. However, other foreshadowing easily clarifies itself to the reader and helps them make an educated guess about the resolution.
Some novels even consist of half present-day narrative, half flashbacks, to maximize dramatic impact. Jodi Picoult and Gillian Flynn are great proponents of this technique. No matter how you use flashbacks, however, they need to mean something in the story. Also make sure the threat is realistic, and has been creeping in on the characters the whole time, whether they or the audience realize it or not.
For example, at the end of The Girl on the Train spoilers ahead! But well-done suspense successfully cloaks its plot in obscurity, resulting in the hard-earned satisfaction of the resolution. This means staying ahead of your reader, in order to keep them on their toes. All these tips, as well your newly acquired knowledge of its various incarnations, have officially made you a master of literary suspense. What's the best suspense you've ever read or written? What are your tips for recreating it?
Let us know in the comments below! Very helpful article, thanks for sharing. I have also created a new blog please check it out. Finished your first draft and ready for the next step? We've put together nine top tips to help kickstart your self-edit! Learn how to write a story in six steps! From initial concept to polishing your final draft, here's everything you need to know. Build a compelling world and tell a story readers will love with these 6 tips on how to write science fiction from professional editors.
What is a foil character and what do they add to a story? Here, we go through their main functions with examples from film and literature. Ever wondered what goes on behind the core of every story? Here we will give you an in-depth tour of the beating engine at the heart of all your favorite tales: rising action. What does ProWritingAid offer and how does it compare to Grammarly? Reedsy is more than just a blog.
Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. Learn how to craft an irresistible page-turner with this free day course. Sign up now to get your first lesson. Posted on Sep 26, What is literary suspense?
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