If your goal as an author is to connect with an audience, you must ensure that you are keeping the reader is entertained. The tension comes in a variety of ways, most commonly known as conflict. However, it can also be associated with anticipation or clashing views. The use of tension is essential when creating a page-turning story. Think about your favourite tv shows, is there one that you just couldn’t stop watching? You just NEEDED to find out what happened next? That is because the writers focused on maintaining tension by revealing some information while creating new intriguing questions.
For example, in Lost, each episode appeared to answer one pressing question while creating another. To be honest, I binged the entire series over a few weeks. I’m not proud of that, but I can now say it was “research.”
And so, when it comes to writing, the two main objectives you should focus on include creating tension and conflict within your plot! Here are some tips to do so:
1. Exploit the use of anticipation
You’ll notice most stories follow the same plot structures: the problem appears, more issues come up until you have no clue how the protagonist will surpass them. (Cue big battle scene).
If you haven’t noticed this before, I’m sorry, you’ll never be able to un-see it.
The reason as to why the characters face so many problems is because it creates anticipation and tension within the story. We wonder what will they do or what kind of decisions they will make. The not knowing is addicting, books are like giant puzzles no matter the genre. Sometimes the reader receives a piece of the puzzle throughout the book until the final secret is revealed. Others will provide certain parts in the beginning, but you don’t understand their meaning until the ending.
There are so many ways you can create your puzzle, and this explains why despite writing the same topic as another author, it will still be different.
2. Give the reader more than the characters
In every single horror movie, there’s this scene where the unfortunate character decides to go investigate by themselves. At this point, we are screaming “No!” at the screen. Since we’ve seen this scene time and time again, we know exactly what is going to happen. As a writer, hide specific details from the characters. This allows the reader to the hypothesis as to what will happen next creating even more engagement from them. *Just make sure not to info-dump!
3. Create vulnerable characters
This point ties into the last, since by creating realistic characters with insecurities, faults, and challenges, you encourage the reader to emotionally connect with them. We all know that nobody is perfect. Your reader will struggle to care for your characters if they seem unrealistic or fake.
4. Failure is a great thing
In life, we fail. It’s part of life. It’s essential to allow our characters to fail since this helps to create realistic characters. By letting them fail, you also can create tension. What are the consequences? Or perhaps an unexpected outcome? So, as they say, “learn how to say ‘no.'”
5. Sentence structure
If you shorten your sentences, you can create the illusion of anticipation.
The cold persisted before the pain, and the sky was engulfed by darkness. I’m dying.
Here’s just a rough example, the short final word or phrase can be very impactful when you are revealing some new exciting information.
6. Making decisions
Have your character make many choices, this creates tension as there could be a multitude of consequences (good or bad) that can come out of a situation. At times, let your character make the wrong decision (but have the reader understand why they made that decision.) The unexpected can be a great tool to engage your audience.
7. Don’t give the protagonist what they want
You see this often in tv shows, where they create conflict by adding tension between love interests. The romantic or sexual tension makes you want the characters to finally succumb to their emotions, but they never do. (You’ll notice that when couples do come together or weddings…. it means the show is at the end and they aren’t finding other ways to increase audience engagement.. ex) Castle, Big Bang…
8. Create conflict
Tension is often referred to as being the result of a conflict between the characters or the main problem within the plot. The drama and difficult situations put the reader in the same position. They will feel as though they are apart of the story, they will come up with their own solutions.
I hope these tips help! Feel free to leave more tips in the comments 🙂
