How to Create Suspense as a Writer
wonderfulwords.beehiiv.com
wonderfulwords.beehiiv.com
>How to Create Suspense as a Writer
PS: Once again, original article title has beeb changed. It is "How to Keep Your Readers Interested"
Why? Just why?
In a novel, the point of suspense is to make you read the next page. It's an almost trivial step to get to, almost automatic, but I still have to want to keep reading. I do (for most competently-written novels), because the payoff appears worth the effort.
"I'll tell you tomorrow"? That only works if you're promising me something worth the wait, and if I believe that you will deliver. Almost everyone who uses this technique fails the second point. And the more you use this technique, the less I believe you. You're willing to waste my time today; you'll probably be willing to waste it tomorrow, too. So I won't be back.
>You're willing to waste my time today; you'll probably be willing to waste it tomorrow, too. So I won't be back.
But 9999 times out of 10000, that doesn't happen. Instead, what happens is some promotion for something that I don't care about. And the opportunity cost of paying attention those 9999 times outweighs the free food I get the one time there's actually something there.