Showing posts with label secrets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label secrets. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Shh! It's a Secret: How to Raise Tension and Conflict in a Scene

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Tension is a valuable tool for getting readers to turn the page--no matter what genre you write in. Here's an updated look at a great tip for creating tension.


Conflict and tension are two things writers want in every scene, but it can be rough getting them both in there without a fight. Characters can't always be at odds or butting heads, and "conflict as a fight" gets old pretty fast. Even a solid difference of opinion can only happen so many times before it starts to feel repetitious.

It's also tough to find new ways to build tension when the characters in the scene are friends working toward the same goal. How do you create conflict and not have friends turn on each other?

Friday, July 15, 2016

Tah-Dah! The Best Place to Reveal Your Story Secrets

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

When to reveal information is one of the many tools in a writer’s toolbox. It’s crucial to plotting, because a revelation is a great way to end on a tense moment that doesn’t involve a life or death situation. It’s a quieter hook, but effective because it satisfies the “need to know what happens next” question for readers, and works as the carrot that keeps them reading.

But when is the best time to reveal a secret?