3 Ways to Create Page-Turning Tension in a Story
"When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let it go”
— Carol Burnett
Tension is what keeps your readers turning the pages of your book eagerly late into the night. If your story is crafted masterfully, it will keep them coming back for more.
CREATE INCREDIBLE MAIN CHARACTERS WHO DRAW EMPATHY
If your main character is a perfectly good person who is simply experiencing a bout of bad luck, your readers will be much more likely to relate to this individual and feel sorry for him or her. Perhaps you want to create a lawyer who is always standing up for justice, until one of his own clients turns against him or businesswoman who has grown up in a poor family and worked her way up the corporate ladder, only to discover that her only sister has been stealing from her.
CREATE SECONDARY CHARACTERS THAT ARE MYSTERIOUS AND UNPREDICTABLE
The most surprising elements of a story often take place when a character acts unexpectedly, shocking the reader. Perhaps you want to create layered, complicated people who are close to your protagonist. Maybe her father is a retired mafia member who falls back into his old ways when she least expects it, or her best friend is sleeping with her husband!
INCORPORATE PLOT TWISTS
The best stories have multiple plot twists. Things rarely turn out as they're expected to and the protagonist must face many obstacles on their journey. This leads the readers to wonder if this individual will ever end up accomplishing what they set out to do.
For instance, you might want to pen a tale about a woman who is married to the love of her life after escaping from her abuser. The only problem is that, late in the evening, he is never around, but she doesn't know this until she can't fall asleep one night and discovers that his car isn't in the driveway. She discovers that her darling husband has a penchant for murder. This is a great way to keep your readers engaged because no one would ever suspect that her loving partner was secretly a killer.
Writing tension in stories is one of the most thrilling rides for writers of all bents. It's important to allow the characters to lead the way as you construct a masterful story that will keep your readers yearning for more.
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