How to Build Suspense in Writing

Want to keep your reader on the edge of their seat? Suspense is a vital arrow to have in your literary quiver as a writer, even if you don’t write a particularly “suspenseful” genre. (Yes, it’s totally possible to have your readers in suspense even with a genre like contemporary romance!) In this podcast, authors Kate and Abbie are going to show you a few different awesome ways to build suspense and tension in your story.
Keep this podcast alive and free of interruptions: / thekateandabbieshow
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Connect with Kate on Instagram (@lonehawkwriter) or her blog: www.heretocreateblog.com/
Connect with Abbie on Instagram (@makeyourstorymatter) or her blog: www.abbiee.com/

[@thesamuraiman]

If you're in 3rd person, I feel like you could describe things the characters sees but doesn't quite understand. Put something in the scenery. The reader might question it, but the character might just look over it. 🤔🤔🤔

[@hellofromdavid]

The best way to keep a reader's attention is to make your writing: (1) interesting (2) flowing (3) credible (4) engaging (5) purposeful (6) entertaining (7) thought-provoking (8) satisfying (9) beautiful (10) intriguing, and (11) good company. _Tease_ your reader, and promise them (imply) a pay-off. Make your writing worth reading. If you do this then people will always ask for more.

[@Yatukih_001]

And don´t forget.........to ask.......the question.........´what if X, Y,Z was scary´. That is how Stephen King made it into becoming the world´s most mentioned name in the field of writing.

[@juliaherkel8051]

To channel my inner Abbie for a moment, I would truly say that to make suspense suspenseful, ask yourself, "Why does it matter?" ;) The moment you make something personal, it can truly become suspenseful because the reader knows it matters to the character. That aside, awesome episode! I was listening to it while making salad, and got a few weird looks from family members when I would randomly agree out loud with you guys. 😆 Wireless headphones are great, except when they're not. I also talk a lot during movies. (Maybe it's a writer thing?) I try to remember to not say EVERYTHING I think of out loud, because I've accidentally spoiled stuff for my family when I called a plot twist ahead of time before. 😅 A great example of suspense and tension would probably be Inception, or The Dark Knight Rises. (A story mining episode on those would be really cool! 😉) And, to end this comment, here's a question I have: how do you both like to go about brainstorming? I personally have a tough time coming up with new ideas (weird, I know), and you both seem to have very different writing processes, so I was wondering how each of you like to go about doing that. :)

[@KAEmmons]

So glad we could be your salad-making soundtrack! More story-mining episodes are on the way...

[@kennedypatton7874]

Great Examples with Suspense: The Queen’s Gambit (Great Prologue) Anne with an E (Interesting Cliffhanger)

[@leonmayne797]

The Queen's Gambit also makes chess suspenseful (like they said you can make anything suspenseful if there's a strong internal conflict relating to it)

[@ailsa2434]

Four minutes in and I'm already reeling from the way Kate linked the words "suspense" and "suspended," as in having a few things suspended in the air and wanting to know how they tie up. I KNEW listening to this podcast was going to be a good idea :) Okay, I'm going to keep listening now.

[@dilraising1007]

Yay! Suspense. This podcast couldn't have come at a better time! I was just working on this, thank you! Huge fan :).

[@KAEmmons]

Yay! Stoked that this episode is coming to you at the right time. :) thanks for being here

[@heathicusmaximus8170]

I never thought about suspense being that feeling that "I have to see what's coming". I just didn't know what it was called. Excellent talk!

[@liamurati8318]

OMG!!!! I am literally dancing on my seat right now!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for building an episode answering my questions! (now going back to the episode lol)

[@thesamuraiman]

The nail in "A Quiet Place" is also a good example of "chekhov"s gun"

[@leonmayne797]

Same with the pair of scizzors in The Outfit. The climax is seemingly over and they still haven't been used, leaving the audience on edge with the feeling that it might just be a bait climax (it is).

[@Amy_Mi6]

@Kate&Abbie ... Would you guys be up for doing a special episode where you just react to/give commentary on a movie you’re watching for the first time together? It’d probably be a bear to edit but I feel like it would totally be worth it :D

[@KAEmmons]

I LOVE this idea! Thanks so much for listening, Amy. We're stoked this one helped!

[@Amy_Mi6]

@@KAEmmons 😃💜💖🥰

[@juliacoldwell1095]

This was helpful. I always find these episodes help explain something I might know instinctually but can never put my finger on it or put it into words in order to repeat the same effect in my writing. This is some of the clearest writing advice I've come across in my research of writing advice, it is vague, but also specific every time to every story. So thanks to you both for the helpful tips. It also helps me understand why I enjoy other stories/movies so much, because the events matter to the characters, etc. :)

[@naomijohns4334]

Y'all are like my role models! When you mentioned watching movies and talking about the story/characters during it, I was like "That's so cool!!! I would love to watch a movie with y'all!" It's so funny cause my sister and I love talking about story structure and internal conflict and all of that (especially while we're watching the movie)! Thank you for this podcast, it has been really great for me in my writing journey! Keep going! Y'all are amazing! Don't give up.

[@kennedypatton7874]

Hello, just want ask if you could make a video about Judgement vs Critiquing. I just finished reading the Lisa Cron books the information was very helpful but It feels like it closes me into a box. And normally find myself judging films or T.V. Shows a little too harshly and I often forget most writers don’t have the same knowledge as I do. I hope you understand-K.P.

[@Amy_Mi6]

This is one of the topics I struggle with so thank you for this one! :)

[@lise4369]

Kate is great, love Abbie and glad I found Kate now too.

[@thesamuraiman]

💜 Good topic. I kinda need this. My book isn't full on thriller/suspense, it's a fantasy/adventure, but I do want some moments to be suspenseful.

[@taylorduarte6725]

I would love watching movies with yall! 😂😂😂 my husband is used to how i watch movies now. He even comes up with how it could've been done better with me 😂😂😂

[@lise4369]

24:25 me with my husband... Lmao He's gotten used to it. Keeps the remote close to pause it for me lol

[@kimparone3616]

Can you do something about understanding the psychology about the villain and understanding their goals?

[@lindseyberrum]

😊

[@PinupSticknerd]

Setup reaction action :: manga

[@Millicent07]

I'm in love with you guys 💗 sister relationship goal 😍

[@thesamuraiman]

Speaking of studying good stories: The Last Airbender. That is all. 😂

[@janaeporter3513]

Katie: “-Why did I stop watching this series? Answer those questions and you can avoid-“ Me: “Cobra Kai.” Katie: “Pitfalls…”

[@PeterMacansky]

[@alejandrarodriguez8410]

I love so much this comment

[@tolvfen]

"Finding secrets to discover, and not reveal how it is"