Suspense

Suspense is what keeps you reading. There are many ways to create interest or suspense in a story.

The Hook

Put away the tackle box; I’m talking about an interesting plot device that generates interest in a story and makes a reader want to continue reading.

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is when a writer drops hints to the reader about what is to come. You can foreshadow events using imagery, speech, or other literary devices to keep a reader hooked. It’s the little bread crumbs that we keep picking up along the way.

Cliff Hangers

If your story is broken into sections or chapters, it is often useful to create a cliff hanger to ensure that the reader will continue reading rather than move on to that Twilight book.

Creating an Envelope

An envelope is a narrative structure in which you introduce an idea or image early on in the narrative and your entire story works toward meeting that point. It is a type of circular narration.

Time Constraints

If time is running short, we want to find out if the character makes it to that train or if the bomb explodes. Time constraints create a sense of urgency and interest in the story.

High Stakes

It’s now or never. When characters are facing major decisions, the stakes are, inevitably, high. Will he tell her he loves her before she says, “I do” to the wrong guy? Read on for more…

Pressure

The odds are stacked against her, but I want her to overcome! Time constraints and high stakes also contribute to pressure.

Dilemmas

When characters face tough decisions, we want to find out what choices they will make.

Complications

Keep throwing obstacles in his path. Think action movie.

Villains and Heroes

A good plot line has a villain and a hero. We root for our side.