Raising the stakes in our writing
How do we do that? Gee, I’m glad you asked.
We give our protagonist a problem at every turn. It can be a small problem such as a flat tire, or BIG problem such as what to do about that dead body in the middle of the living room.
Cliffhangers, don’t we all love those? End your chapters with one that will ensure your readers keep turning the pages.
There’s the old time honored ticking clock where our protagonist must solve a big problem within a set time frame or there will be dire consequences. Think about all those suspense movies that you enjoy, they have a deadline.
Keep raising the tension, releasing it, and raising it again. You can even do that with the scenery. Is it night? Foggy? Is your hero heading into a mudslide? You get the idea.
Make your readers’ hearts pound. Put your protagonist into so much danger that they catch themselves holding their breath.
Posted on June 27, 2009, in My blog, Writer, Writing and tagged Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing. Bookmark the permalink. 4 Comments.
Doggonedmysteries 
Some really great advice. Buttttt, some folks get so wound up with substituting action for tension they lose the plot. Did a few seminars where folks flat didn’t know the difference. As always, I love you’re site. Sandy
Unfortunately that is true Sandy. I’ve also found that they can lose their characters somewhere in all the tension.
Writers, don’t forget your plot and characters! They are the story.
PS I’m attending a WC that Charlaine Harris is on staff. I’m looking forward to meeting her. Sandy
I’m ever so jealous!!! 😉 I just finished reading her ‘Poppy Done to Death’ last night.