The dictionary definitions of suspense include:

uncertainty: the state or condition of being unsure or in doubt about something

enjoyable tension: a feeling of tense excitement about how something such as a mystery novel or movie will end

anxiety: a state of anxiety or intense worry about something

Let’s examine ways that a writer can evoke these feeling to her audience.
Here are some ways to create suspense:

• You need a good plot.  Take the time to map out exactly what you have in your head.  I find that an outline is extremely helpful.

• Set the scene and mood to draw the reader into the story.  This might take a lot of description.

• Use believable characters.  If your reader can relate to your character, especially the main character, s/he will be more likely to feel a connection with the story.  This connection will pull them into the scene and allow them to feel the tension that you will later create.

• Don’t give your reader all the information at once.  Slowly feed them the story.  Give them a chance to look forward to what will happen next.

• Show what your characters are doing.  My rule is to describe the scene and setting but show the characters movements and emotions.

• Use suspenseful words and phrases as you build to the climax.

Creating a suspenseful story is the trait of a skilled writer. It takes lots of practice.  It took me a while to figure out the points listed above.  I’m still practicing so give it time.

It’s been quite some time since my last post.  I’ve been very busy lately.  I’m trying to scrape up some money for a new laptop so I wrote a short story for a writing competition.  I so wish I could share that story with all of you but I can’t right now; the competition clearly asked for unpublished stories.

I also finally finished Chapter four, entitled First Encounters, of Bebokia the Hidden Planet.  Completing a chapter always give me an adrenaline rush.  It takes at least a whole day for me to calm down and begin the next chapter.  Is that strange?

After six years I’ve finally started to drive again.  It’s true what they say; driving is something you never forget how to do.  The streets in Germany are little bit different than the streets in the US.   The signs are also different and that takes a while to get used to.   It’s amazing how driving gives you such a feeling of freedom.

Everyone’s getting ready for the Easter holiday.  We’re planning a chocolate egg hunt for the little ones (and the big ones too).   The apartment needs to be spotless for our guests so I’ve been doing some heavy cleaning.  I was planning to make potato salad and bought all the ingredients except for the potatoes.  I’ll have to make time to go back to the grocery store.

I’ve been teaching my son some basic reading and math skills before he starts school in August.  It’s so important that he has a head start.  The German school system is lacking in everything.  I don’t have anything good to say about that subject so I’ll just leave it at that.

I will do my best to post more often.  I think two posts a month is reasonable…

Sunshine
On Your Birthday
Absence
Vortex
Monsters
Boomerang
Colors 
Fantasy
Meditation
Forbidden
Numb
Want
Cat Heaven
Strangers
Fight
Solitude