Building Tension in Your Writing

Whether you are a writer, speaker, or musician, creating tension followed by resolution is critical in your work. Without it, the work becomes flat and forgotten. Tension has a cycle to it. It must strain to a breaking point, and then release, but the timing is critical. You must know instinctively how far to stretch your audience and when to release the stress, or you will lose them.

Example from
The Killer Show

“I froze. Next to the muffin pan, a note read:
'Be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful little mouth what you say
Be careful what you do. I'm always watching you
You can never be too careful in the dark.'
I swallowed my fear.
What if he’s still be in the house?  
Think. Think!
I grabbed my phone. My hands were shaking. I misdialed. Hung up. Tried again.
While waiting for the cops to arrive, I called Darcy and told her about the note.
‘I’ll be right there’, she said.”

Six Word Stories

WOW and DOUBLE WOW! Thank you! All 600 of you who downloaded my book, The Killer Show over Labor Day Week-end!

Okay, now for today's post.

There is an interesting cultural meme that limits stories to six words.
And the example is attributed to Earnest Hemingway: “For sale, baby shoes, never worn.”

Six words may elicit a story in my mind, or open a story, but truthfully, it does not tell the whole story.

However, it is a challenge to carve out excess wood in our stoies, in our thinking, maybe, to get to the core of an idea.

 So, here are some off the top of my head:

A Moment in Time

“Cardboard sign reads, ‘work for food’.”

“Mama opens door, soldier comes home.”

 “Family reunites, set old hurts aside.”

“Finger marks found on pumpkin pie”

“Puppy frightens small Halloween monster.”

“Running scared, leaps, never looks back.”

Mystery Stories

“Forty foot waves silence bloodcurdling screams.”

“A chilly moon oversees still body.”

“On the dashboard, a severed arm.”

From a reader: “I like different time periods, in particular, the 1800s early  And 1900s. However,  I do enjoy a modern-day setting. In this particular picture, I think it would be fun to have a modern day that somehow got mixed up in yesteryears and therefore you have your mystery. Thanks for letting us use our imaginations.” - Colleen

Thanks Colleen, it's an interesting take, and very imaginative.

Make it a great week.

Judy

author The Killer Show