Suspenseful Scenes

Suspense is what keeps readers turning the page but writing a story without it can leave them feeling jilted. Your plot must be realistic and gripping and your characters well developed and relatable.

When writing a suspenseful scene, the description of your setting should add to the intensity and danger of the action taking place. Develop scenes in a way that your readers get a feel for the character’s fears and anxieties.

Choose your words wisely. It’s not the length of your descriptive words that make a scene suspenseful. It’s in the power of the words used. Here are some examples of different scenarios and questions readers might ask:

1. Light from a single lamppost was absorbed by the thick haze hovering over the park, causing inky darkness along the path. An eerie silence sucked the breath from her lungs. Hair prickled and her palms grew sweaty. Terror twisted knots in the pit of her stomach.
   • Why was she in the park after dark? Was she being followed? Had she escaped an attacker and didn’t know which way to go? Did the anonymous call give orders to come alone or her child would die?
2. Angry voices echoed from the depths of the abandoned corridor. A door slammed. Someone screamed, metal clanged, and a distant thud brought an abrupt silence — heavy footsteps, then the jarring sound of a chainsaw. 
   • Who was arguing? Who was hiding in the shadows listening? How many people were behind that closed door? What caused the thud? Had a body dropped to the floor? A chainsaw inside the building? Why?
3. The crumpled note drifted to the floor like a feather, but its message stood out like neon lights. You’re Next.
   • What happened and why had she received a threatening note? Was someone watching her? Would she call the police? Was there anyone she could trust?

I’m sure you can imagine other scenes, and you have already written them into your manuscript. Which word choices did the best job of creating the scene and presenting the tension needed?

In the above scenarios, most readers would have an idea of what’s going on, but it’s hard to avoid the questions that pop into their minds while the action’s taking place. At the same time, you’re allowing readers to experience the building tension as they grow concerned for the safety of the characters they’ve connected with and care about.

Suspense can be built slowly by allowing it to offer a sense of foreboding or the author can jump right into action like the scenes above. Regardless of the pace, your story will grow more intense as imminent danger approaches, and you’ll deliver a quality suspense scene your readers can devour.

Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She has won and been a finalist in several writing contests, including first place in romantic suspense in the Foundations Awards at the 2018 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, a finalist in ACFW’s 2018 Genesis, was a finalist in the 2018 Fabulous Five, and a double finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence.

Loretta lives in North Mississippi with her husband Kenneth, a retired Memphis Police Captain. She loves salted caramel lava cake, dark chocolate, and caramel Frappuccinos.

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Website: lorettaeidson.com

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