Building Tension and Conflict

As authors, we are the puppet masters of emotions in our novels. It is our job to keep readers on the edge of their seats, turning pages, eager to uncover the next revelation. But how do we achieve this? What are the methods to weave a web of tension and conflict that enthralls our readers?

Let’s start with the heartbeat of your prose. Pacing is the secret-sauce that can make or break a story’s tension. Just like a music conductor, you must orchestrate the ebb and flow of your narrative. Be strategic in manipulating the tempo of the story. You slow it down during moments of suspense. Drawing out the tension like a lingering note. Then, unleash bursts of rapid action or revelations, like a crescendo to shatter the silence. It is important to vary the length and structure of your sentences. Use shorter and fragmented ones during intense scenes to increase the sense of urgency. Switch to longer sentences to create a breathing space in the flow. By using these methods to control the pacing, you can create a symphony of tension.

Cliffhangers are the literary equivalent of a well-timed punchline. They leave readers dangling, thirsting for answers and yearning to know what comes next. End each chapter with a tantalizing question or an unresolved conflict. Let the reader’s curiosity gnaw at them until they turn the page into the next chapter of your book. But beware. Use cliffhangers with care. Employ them sparingly, to maintain their impact. Otherwise, you risk frustrating your readers and leaving them feeling manipulated rather than captivated. When using cliffhangers in a series to help move the reader to the next book, make sure you resolve enough of the conflict in the current book to satisfy your reader. Otherwise they may abandon your series.

Characters are the lifeblood of tension and conflict. They are the catalysts of every story. Exploit conflicts, both external and internal, between your characters. Pit your protagonist against the antagonist to challenge their beliefs, goals, or desires. Create oppositions in values or worldviews. Don’t stop there. Dive into the depths of your characters’ motivations, for it is in the clash of internal desires where tension thrives. This is the heart of where a three-dimensional character comes from. Allow readers to witness their clash of wills and emotional turmoil to enter your story.

As authors, we hold the power to build the tension and conflict that keeps readers hooked for more. Through the use of strategic pacing, varying the lengths of our sentences and paragraphs. To cliffhangers, where we compel the reader forward. And finally, in the exploration of character conflicts, we become architects of suspense. I hope you will embrace these strategies to enhance your story’s pacing. The power is in your hands.

BIO:

Wendy Van Camp is the Poet Laureate for the City of Anaheim, California. Her work is influenced by cutting edge technology, astronomy, and daydreams. She is a nominated finalist for the Elgin Award, a Pushcart Prize, and for a Dwarf Stars Award. Her poems, stories, and articles have appeared in: “Star*Line”, “Scifaikuest”, and “Indy Author Magazine”, among many others. She is the editor of two annual poetry anthologies “Eccentric Orbits” and “Anaheim Poetry Review”, and a guest editor for the SFPA’s “Eye To The Telescope”. She is a graduate of the Ad Astra Speculative Fiction Workshop and a member of SFWA, Codex, SFPA, and IBPA. Find her books on all major online retailers. Learn more at http://wendyvancamp.com

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