Episode at a glance:

[01:45] What We Mean By Suspense

When we hear the word suspense, we picture ticking bombs or serial killers. But that’s only one expression of it. At its core, suspense is uncertainty about something that matters. If it doesn’t matter, we don’t care. If the outcome feels certain or predictable, the tension deflates. If there’s no pressure to know now, readers drift away.

[03:26] Plant A Central Story Question Early

Every story that grips us has a driving question both readers and characters need answered.

in memoir, that question might be: Why did my mother leave when I was 11 years old? In historical fiction, the question might be: Who betrayed them? In fantasy: Can she master her power before it destroys her? in literary fiction: Will this marriage survive?

Plant that question early and return to it often. Give partial answers that complicate the story.  Each time you revisit it, add depth, not answers.

[04:54] Foreshadow the Outcome

When readers know the end but not the path, you create dread, not just surprise. So readers brace for the blow, but can’t tell when it will land. It also heightens the reader’s attention, because every word, every gesture, becomes a clue that’s driving toward the ultimate outcome. And there’s investment in the present.

[08:58] End Scenes On Uncertainty

How you end a scene determines whether readers keep reading. If you tie up every question, they’ll put the book down because you’ve deflated all the tension. If you end on uncertainty, a new decision, an unresolved conflict, they’ll turn the page. A good rule of thumb is to enter the scene late in the middle of something and get out of the scene early before it’s resolved.

[12:52] What Kills Suspense

Learn 5 ways you might be deflating suspense plus quick easy tweaks to raise the tension and keep readers eager to know what unfolds next.

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A Man by Orianna Fallaci

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

Nail Your Story Idea FREE Quick Guide

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