Building up tension in your story can be crucial depending on your plot line. Tension in a story refers to suspense, anxiety, or excitement that keeps readers engaged and eager to know what happens next. It is a key element in storytelling, as it drives the plot forward and deepens your readers' emotional investment in your characters and their outcomes. Tension can be created through various means, such as conflicts between characters, high-stakes situations, or the looming threat of danger. This article will discuss 5 unique ways you can build up tension in your novel---read along!
Include a Ticking Clock
The absolute most classic way of adding tension to a story is by including a ticking clock. This refers to a situation where your character (or group of characters) must accomplish a task within a limited amount of time, or else they'll face dire consequences. The "ticking clock" can be literal, such as a countdown to an explosion, or figurative, such as a deadline, approaching danger, or an imminent event that the characters must prevent or resolve. Either way, this writing device is super effective because it naturally increases the stakes! Plus, it forces your characters to act under pressure, making the situation much more intense for both the characters and the readers. As the clock ticks down, the tension builds, and the audience becomes more invested.
Add Plot Twists
Any good writer knows about plot twists. Not only do plot twists make your story more interesting for readers, but they can also be a great way to build up tension. This is because once a plot twist is revealed readers learn that all they thought to be true is incorrect. Ultimately, this means readers are thrown off balance, creating a sense of unpredictability and heightened suspense. This sudden shift can drastically change the direction of your story, raising new questions, and creating a fresh layer of tension as readers try to anticipate what will happen next. In general, by using plot twists as a tool to build tension, you can keep your story dynamic, unpredictable, and compelling, ensuring that readers remain captivated until the very end. Listed below are 10 plot twists you can incorporate into your stories:
A natural disaster strikes the planet.
A character suddenly has an unusual power.
The main character's parents are kidnappers.
The ending is revealed to be the beginning.
The protagonist is from the future.
An important character is killed.
The kind best friend is the villain.
The dead character isn't dead.
The main character develops a fatal illness.
A character expresses their true feelings for someone.
Make Your Readers Curious
The most important element of adding tension to your story is by creating curiosity in your readers. You can't make your story suspenseful without establishing a sense of curiosity in your readers beforehand. After all, who would feel suspense and tension if they weren’t already intrigued by the story? Curiosity is the driving force that compels readers to keep turning the pages and makes them eager to uncover the answers to the questions your story poses. By creating curiosity, you plant seeds of wonder, making readers interested in knowing more about the characters, the plot, and the outcome.
Consider the Weather
While it may sound surprising, the weather in your story can actually play a huge part in building tension. The environment and atmosphere created by weather can significantly influence the mood of a scene and the emotions of both your characters and readers. As a result, you can use weather to build up tension in your story. To do so, carefully choose and describe the weather conditions in your novel and show how they have an impact on your characters. Plus, you can utilize weather to amplify the sense of unease, danger, or urgency in your story. For more information on what different weather types symbolize in writing click on the button below.
Show Don't Tell
Showing instead of telling is also critical when building up tension in your story. This is because showing instead of telling allows readers to experience the tension firsthand, rather than just being told that it exists. For example, instead of telling the reader that a character is terrified, you can show it through their actions and reactions. Perhaps your character clutches the edge of a table until their knuckles turn white. Or maybe they scream so loudly something falls off a shelf. By demonstrating the actual feelings, actions, and movements of your characters you immerse readers into a scene, making the tension more visceral and impactful.
When written correctly, tension—while obviously stressful—is incredibly engaging to read because it creates an emotional connection between the reader and the story. Tension draws readers in, making them feel as though they are right there with the characters, experiencing the same anxiety, fear, or excitement. Whether you are writing a teen thriller or a historical fantasy, the tips above are sure to help you add tension to your story.
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