How writers create suspense
Setting
A dangerous environment will create immediate tension
Expectation
Building tension through what others expect of the main character. How do those expectations stress the character out
Disaster
Can be big or small
Hidden Thoughts
Characters don't reveal their thoughts and readers are for ed to infer them, wondering if they're right or not
Distance
Creating space betwen the character and his goal, such ad an urgent need to reach a far-away destination. Ending chapters or sections with an emphasis on worries.
Main character flaw
Ex: someone cant tolerate being called coward reader worried if calked coward what will he do
Small wins, small losses
Fell more suspense when writer uses instead of s big one
Withholding Information
From the readers (dont tell everything about characters back story), from the main characters (that the readers know), and from each other (characters hide info from each other).
Getting personal
Its not just the protagonist gets kidnapped its the protagonists son who does the kidnapping
Time
Making pressure lon by using s ticking clock device. There needs to be a destination in the future that is looming. Worried thoughts can also work to help emphasize the time. The writer poses some sort of dramatic "question" grom the get-go and delays the answer for nearly the whole story.
Pressure
Protagonist is operating under insurmountable odds
Secondary character flaw
Same as main character flaw
Thoughts
Shoeing the tension characters are feeling through their thoughts
Loss
Something is lost and the main character thinks its necessary the tension comes from the fact that they must get it back
Changing focus
Varying the pace by zooming in on different aspects
A test
When the character is faced with sone sort of test. Even better: when the writer lets the character feel like they've passed the test and then pulls the rug out from under neath
Separation
When the main character is physically separated from the problem. Also a focus on what the villain is doing while main character is away
Foresight
When the reader has a lofty viewpoint they are able to see the two trains barreling towards each other on the same track the tension grows as the distance closes
Isolation
When there is danger around the main character and he is also isolated
Red Herring
Writer introduces something that misleads or distracts from a relevant issue - false clue