How to Build Suspense in Your Story and Keep Readers Hooked

Personally there are some stories that have built up suspense and tension in me , one of them was “Gone Girl ” by Gillian Flynn,

I got to a part in the story and I began to ask myself some questions like ” who is responsible for Amy’s disappearance?”, “What is the truth behind Amy’s dairy entries” , and a lot more questions

Guess what ? , You can also make your story as suspenseful and tentious as that , this will keep your readers curious

Now , I’m going to list the notes on how to build suspense and tension in your story

1. PACE YOUR STORYTELLING: Control the flow of information and reveal key details gradually to keep readers wanting to read more .

2. USE CLIFFHANGERS: End chapters with unresolved situations or unanswered questions , this will make readers waiting and thinking of what will happen next

3. CREATE CONFLICTS: Make sure to introduce challenges or opposing forces that create tensions and raise the stakes for your characters , readers do love a good show.

4. UTILIZE FORESHADOWING: Give your readers a sense of what may happen, foreshadowing builds anticipation and creates a sense of tension as the readers starts to piece together the puzzle and anticipate what’s to come. Make the eventual revelation even more impactful.

5. PLAY WITH PACING : Vary the speed of your narrative, alternating between fast-paced action scenes and slower , more introspective moments to create a chain of emotions

6. DEVELOP COMPLEX CHARACTERS: Give your characters conflicting desires or hidden agendas that add layers of tension and intrigue .

7. USE VIVID IMAGERY : Paint a vivid picture with your words , appealing to the senses and immersing readers in the scene , intensifying their emotional experience

Remember , building suspense and tension is all about keeping readers engaged and eager to know what happens next .