Creating suspense in writing is an art form that requires a delicate balance of withholding information and arousing readers' curiosity. Character development is key to generating suspense, as readers need to care deeply about the characters in order to fear the worst for them. To create suspense, make your hero face his greatest fear and risk losing what matters most to him. You can create suspense around anything that arouses readers' curiosity, whether it's a love triangle or a murderer on the loose.
In narrative suspense, you pose a question, problem, or mystery at the beginning of the book and share more about it as the plot progresses. Having more than one narrative suspense arc keeps the reader interested and gives the story additional layers of depth. Mysterious suspense differs in that something is deliberately hidden from the reader. Romantic or comedic suspense can also occur when the reader doesn't know what's going to happen, although this tension is usually lighter than other forms of suspense. To become a master of literary suspense, you must understand how to craft tension throughout your story.
Start by clarifying your hero's goal as soon as possible and make your readers worry about all the ways your hero's plans can go wrong. Consider characterization, suspense, and conflict when writing your story and use these elements to build up tension until the climax or end of the book. Writing with suspense is an essential skill for authors who want to keep their readers engaged and entertained. By understanding how to create tension and withholding information from readers, you can craft stories that will keep them turning pages until there are no more pages to read.
