I’ve imagined this, now put yourself.
Imagine this: It’s a quiet, moonlit night, and you are alone in your house.
The floorboards creak from something heavy that you can’t see,the clock ticks continuously, and there’s a shadow moving just out of sight.
If you write something like that starting with I.
Your reader’s heart races, their fingers tighten on the book, and they can’t stop reading because they need to know—what happens next? That’s the presence of suspense.
Suspense is what keeps readers hooked, eager to find out what happens next in your story.
Whether you’re writing a thriller, mystery, or even a romance, adding suspense can make your story more interesting and engaging.
But how do you create suspense effectively?
Here are some tips to keep your readers holding their breath for what’s to come!
1.Keeping Things Mysterious
One of the best ways to build suspense is by not revealing everything right away. This doesn’t mean being unclear or confusing, but rather slowly giving out details to make your readers curious. For example, your main character might receive a strange message or notice something unusual, making them (and your readers) wonder what’s going on.
Tip:Use cliffhangers at the end of chapters or scenes. Leave a question unanswered, so the reader wants to keep reading to find out more.
2. Controlling the Speed of Your Story
Suspense works well when you control the pace of your story. Slow down the action during tense moments to increase anticipation. Describe small details like the sound of a creaking floor or a ticking clock to build tension. On the other hand, speeding up the action at key points can create a sense of urgency.
Tip:Mix slow, suspenseful moments with fast-paced action to keep your reader interested and guessing.
3. When the Reader Knows More Than the Characters
Dramatic irony happens when the reader knows something that the characters don’t. This can create suspense as the reader waits to see how the characters will discover the truth. This technique can make your story more exciting because it makes the reader feel involved.
Tip:Drop hints that the reader will notice before the main character does. This makes the reader more engaged and curious about what will happen next.
4. Creating Characters People Care About
Suspense is more effective when readers care about your characters. If your readers are emotionally invested in what happens to your characters, they’ll feel the tension more strongly. Make sure your characters have hopes, fears, and flaws so that readers can relate to them.
Tip: Put your characters in tough situations where their choices have big consequences. The uncertainty of what will happen to them adds to the suspense.
5.Raising the Stakes
For suspense to work, there need to be high stakes—things that matter a lot to your characters. Whether it’s a life-or-death scenario or an important emotional moment, make sure the consequences are clear and serious.
Tip: Keep raising the stakes as the story progresses. Just when the reader thinks things can’t get worse, add another challenge.
6. Being Unpredictable
If your story is too predictable, readers won’t feel much suspense. Keep them on their toes by adding unexpected twists and turns. But make sure these surprises make sense in the story and aren’t just thrown in randomly.
Tip Foreshadowing is a useful tool to create twists that feel surprising but still believable. Leave hints early on that will make sense later.
7. Using the Setting to Build Suspense
A well-described setting can add to the suspense of your story. Think of a spooky, abandoned house or a busy, chaotic city street. The setting should match the mood of the scene and help build tension.
Tip: Use details like weather, time of day, and sensory descriptions (sights, sounds, smells) to create an atmosphere that adds to the suspense.
8. Tension in Dialogue and Thoughts
What your characters say—and what they don’t say—can create suspense. Short, tense dialogue can show urgency, while a character’s thoughts can reveal their worries and fears, increasing the reader’s sense of unease.
Tip:Use pauses, interruptions, and hidden meanings in dialogue to create tension and keep readers wondering.
9. Adding a Time Limit
Introducing a time limit can make your story more suspenseful. Whether it’s a countdown to something happening or a race against the clock, a ticking clock adds urgency and pressure to your story.
Tip:Remind the reader of the approaching deadline at key moments to keep the tension high.
10. Leaving Some Questions Unanswered
When you finish a suspenseful scene or chapter, leaving some questions unanswered can make readers want to keep reading. This keeps the tension going even as the story moves forward.
Tip:Make sure you eventually answer the questions you raise, but let them linger for a while to keep readers interested.
Creating suspense in your writing is about more than just having an exciting plot—it’s about building tension, pacing your story well, and making your readers care about what happens next. By carefully revealing information, controlling the speed of your story, and developing characters that readers connect with, you can keep your audience hooked from start to finish. Remember, suspense isn’t just about what happens next—it’s about making your readers eager to find out.