The Art of Creating Suspense: Central Ideas of Two Authors

This note refers to which important idea found in the interview? Nico made this note while listening to Karin Slaughter's NPR interview. People in story should matter to readers.

you have to make sure that the reader cares enough about these characters

Which will be most helpful as Camille re-reads her notes to find the central idea of this paragraph? Camille is taking notes on "A Simple Way to Create Suspense." Like the old cartoon of the big fish eating a smaller fish eating a very small fish, you'll find out the big answer after a string of smaller drip-drip-drip answers. The big answer is parceled out slowly and parsimoniously. I remember doing that in "Killing Floor," my first novel featuring Jack Reacher, a drifter and ex-military policeman. Something weird is happening in a small Georgia town. O.K., great, but what? Well, it seems to be something to do with money. Fine, but what exactly? Well, it seems to be about getting hold of perfect blank paper for counterfeiting purposes. Wonderful, but where the heck are they getting it?

Big answer should come slowly

This note refers to which central idea found in A Simple Way to Create Suspense? Gary has made this note in his reading notebook. Slowly giving readers answers moves story along.

The basic narrative fuel is always the slow unveiling of the final answer.

Which line from "A Simple Way to Create Suspense" best supports the central idea that writers should not give their readers answers too quickly?

The reader learns to chase, and the momentum becomes unstoppable.

Which is the most correct comparison?

While Slaughter agrees with Child on revealing information slowly, she also feels character development is important.

Which is true about the two excerpts? Review the excerpt from Lee Child's "A Simple Way to Create Suspense". I learned that fact in my first job. I worked in television production from 1977 until 1995, and the business changed radically during that time, mainly because of one particular invention. Compare to this excerpt from the NPR interview with Karin Slaughter. And being a Southern author, you know, I grew up with Flannery O'Connor, and I love reading her essays because she was such a—not just a wonderful writer, but she was wonderful at talking about writing.

Both writers share personal anecdotes to develop their central ideas.

How does author Lee Child develop his central idea in his "A Simple Way to Create Suspense"?

He writes about suspense by creating suspense for his readers.

Which will be most helpful as Duncan re-reads his notes to find the central idea of the interview? Duncan is taking notes on Karin Slaughter's interview about writing. I think, really, what makes thrillers work is that they have to have a beginning, a middle and an end. When you - writing crime fiction, when you want a really good story, when you want a compelling read, you have to focus equally on plot and character. And you have to make sure that the reader cares enough about these characters so that when bad things happen, they want to read along. And being a Southern author, you know, I grew up with Flannery O'Connor, and I love reading her essays because she was such a—not just a wonderful writer, but she was wonderful at talking about writing.

Plot & character - important

Which best describes this excerpt? Read the excerpt from "A Simple Way to Create Suspense". For instance, heading toward a movie review program, I remember we asked: Who was the studio's first choice for the Harry Callahan role in "Dirty Harry"? We knew most viewers would be intrigued. (What, Clint Eastwood wasn't the first choice?) But—and this was the lesson—the success of the tactic didn't depend on intrigue. Even viewers with no interest at all stuck around to find out. Humans are hard-wired. They need to know. Even viewers who knew the answer for sure stuck around, in order to be gratified. The gap was bridged, and the danger averted. (It was Frank Sinatra. You waited, right?)

The author uses a personal anecdote to show that audiences are willing to wait for an answer.

What is the central idea of this paragraph? Review the paragraph from "A Simple Way to Create Suspense" the by Lee Child. Trusting such a simple system feels cheap and meretricious while you're doing it. But it works. It's all you need. Of course, attractive and sympathetic characters are nice to have; and elaborate and sinister entanglements are satisfying; and impossible-to-escape pits of despair are great. But they're all luxuries. The basic narrative fuel is always the slow unveiling of the final answer.

To create suspense, writers must reveal details gradually so readers want more.

Which statement by Karin Slaughter shows a similar central idea? Read the excerpt from Lee Child's "A Simple Way to Create Suspense". Like the old cartoon of the big fish eating a smaller fish eating a very small fish, you'll find out the big answer after a string of smaller drip-drip-drip answers. The big answer is parceled out slowly and parsimoniously.

[NOT] I mean, you know, crime is such a great tool for talking about the human condition, and that's what I like to do.

In "A Simple Way to Create Suspense", Lee Child develops the central idea that writers can develop suspense by revealing answers _____

[Vocab] gradually

In this paragraph, the author uses an Review the paragraph from the article "A Simple Way to Create Suspense." Readers are human, and humans seem programmed to wait for answers to questions they witness being asked. I learned that fact in my first job. I worked in television production from 1977 until 1995, and the business changed radically during that time, mainly because of one particular invention. It was something that almost no one had in 1980, and that almost everyone had in 1990, and it changed the game forever. We had to cope with it. We had to invent a solution to the serious problem it posed.

anecdote.

To identify the central idea of a text, readers must

notice key words and details.