Interesting Stories

Category: character development

  • 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 .

  • HOW TO DEVELOP COMPELLING CHARACTERS

    Before I dive into tips for developing compelling characters, it’s important to understand that well-crafted characters can make or break a story.

    They bring depth , relatability and emotional connection to your narrative.

    Now let’s explore some tips to help you create captivating characters that will captivate your readers

    1. Create well-rounded characters with strengths , flaws and relatable qualities .

    2. Give characters clear goals and motivations that drive their actions .

    3. Develop unique personalities through their dialogue, actions and interactions

    4. Show character growth and development throughout the story

    5. Use vivid descriptions to bring characters to life and make them memorable

    6. Establish conflicts and challenges that test the characters’ strengths and reveal their true nature

    7. Ensure characters have meaningful relationships and interactions with other characters

    8. Make characters relatable by exploring their emotions, desires , and struggles

    9. Avoid stereotypes and clichés “overused phrases, ideas or expressions” and strive for originality in character creation

    10. Continuously refine and deepen your characters “add layers and complexity to your character’s personality, backstory and emotions” as the story progress.

    So, to wrap up the tips for developing compelling characters, remember to focus on creating unique traits , exploring their backstory and motivations, and allowing them to grow and evolve throughout your story . By deepening your characters, you’ll captivate your readers and make your story truly memorable . Enjoy developing your character