“How is your writing going? Do you feel ready to dive into crafting the Black Moment and Epiphany?” I asked Sally as she came to the table with a chai latte. “Not yet. I want to write a suspense into my romance.” Sally sat down and pulled out her notebook. Outside, the sun shrank the snow banks, spring in the air. “I watched Eagle Eye on FX over the weekend, and I realized how much I love suspense.” “I love suspense too,” I said. “A romantic suspense combines the fun of falling in love with that edge-of-your-seat-fear that the people we care about could get killed. “Let’s take a look at what that would mean for your story. Writing a romantic suspense means adding another story structure/plot to your novel. […]
Read the RestTag Archives | Writing a Suspense
Act 2: Jumping back into the suspense!
Yesterday, I addressed Scene Flow, and how in a romance scene, you might decide to develop it a bit more, making it longer. In a suspense, sometimes it’s nice to develop that before you jumpstart the action again. Today, we’re going to jump back into the suspense, drawing that element forward. Just to make sure I’m on the right track, I want to go back to my synopsis. It’s still my roadmap, even though I’ve been taking a few day trips… Luke wants his sister, who is a giant MacKenzie Grace fan to meet her, and the dinner out at the roadhouse seemed to go without a hitch…maybe no one will recognize her. But what Luke doesn’t know is that someone has recognized Kenzie – the reporter from the […]
Read the RestHow to Write a Suspense: Chapter 2 Checklist
Yesterday, we talked about the considerations that go into crafting Chapter 2 of your novel. To see an application of these considerations, read Kenzie’s scene: Chapter 2.Scene 2.Kenzie with SMW Comments Here’s a checklist for you as you craft your chapter: Chapter 2 is The Great Debate. Have I anchored my reader into the scene with enough storyworld/facts? Have I recapped what happened so far, to remind the reader of the danger? What are the choices before your character? What will each choice cost them? What is at stake for the POV character? (IOW: what will happen if they don’t act?) Why should they act? Why shouldn’t they? What is the best choice, and what is their motivation behind choosing that? (IOW: hint at their backstory just enough to establish […]
Read the RestHow to Write a Suspense Chapter 2 – Moving the Character toward the Noble Quest!
You’ve jump started your story with an inciting incident, and home world (maybe not in that order, but definitely in the first chapter) and now you need to write…Chapter 2. Last week we talked about the considerations in crafting Chapter 1. To see the checklist, click here. And, to catch up with the story to date…Chapter 1, Scene 1 Kenzie, Chapter 1 Scene 1 Luke That first chapter is key for pulling your reader into the story. They need to like the characters (and worry about them) enough to keep reading to chapter 2. But now, you need to give your reader a reason to go on the Noble Quest with them. This chapter is all about giving your character (and your reader) enough motivation to go on the journey. […]
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