Jessica Steiner (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-04-09 08:00 pm
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-04-09 08:00 pm
Entry tags:
H is for Heightening Tension #atozchallenge
I wouldn't try to say that I'm an expert on heightening tension. I know I still have a lot to learn about this topic, but my readers have told me that when they reached a certain point in Mortis Unbound, they couldn't put it down. I hope that means I know something about this.
There's a tonne that could be said about tension.
Obviously you want to start at a certain level and tighten the screws as you go, never quite letting go of that anticipation of what might be coming around the next corner. This will draw your reader on through the story without letting them put it down and forget about it.
On the other hand, you want to give your reader a slight break from time to time. You don't want the tension to remain at maximum the whole time. If you try to do that, it'll lose its effectiveness.
But practically, how do you do this? There are lots of ways, but here's one specific tip.
End the scene at the point of change
This is often known as a cliffhanger, but it doesn't have to be a cliffhanger. The character doesn't have to be literally hanging from their nails, though certainly that's one way of doing it. It doesn't have to be opening a door and not telling the reader what's on the other side. You could reveal what it is - and then move on before the character has a chance to decide what to do about it.
The anticipation of wanting to know what comes next is what will keep your reader turning the pages. Maybe it's finding out whether Johnny will keep the bag of money he just found in his locker, or turn it in to the proper authorities. Or maybe Martha just found a strange green vial of liquid and was dared to drink it by her best friend. Or maybe she just drank it, and...what comes next?
If you wrap up each scene with a nice neat bow, if each chapter ends with a clear decision and then the character heads off to sleep with a clear mind and a clear conscience, each time that happens the reader has the opportunity to put it down and go to sleep. And maybe they won't pick it up again.
Don't give them that chance.
There's a tonne that could be said about tension.
Obviously you want to start at a certain level and tighten the screws as you go, never quite letting go of that anticipation of what might be coming around the next corner. This will draw your reader on through the story without letting them put it down and forget about it.
On the other hand, you want to give your reader a slight break from time to time. You don't want the tension to remain at maximum the whole time. If you try to do that, it'll lose its effectiveness.
But practically, how do you do this? There are lots of ways, but here's one specific tip.
End the scene at the point of change
This is often known as a cliffhanger, but it doesn't have to be a cliffhanger. The character doesn't have to be literally hanging from their nails, though certainly that's one way of doing it. It doesn't have to be opening a door and not telling the reader what's on the other side. You could reveal what it is - and then move on before the character has a chance to decide what to do about it.
The anticipation of wanting to know what comes next is what will keep your reader turning the pages. Maybe it's finding out whether Johnny will keep the bag of money he just found in his locker, or turn it in to the proper authorities. Or maybe Martha just found a strange green vial of liquid and was dared to drink it by her best friend. Or maybe she just drank it, and...what comes next?
If you wrap up each scene with a nice neat bow, if each chapter ends with a clear decision and then the character heads off to sleep with a clear mind and a clear conscience, each time that happens the reader has the opportunity to put it down and go to sleep. And maybe they won't pick it up again.
Don't give them that chance.