TECH: Make A Scene #13: Suspense Scenes

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Original posting 21 July 2008

TECH: Make a Scene #13: Suspense Scenes

[continuing the series on Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld]

What do you think will happen next? That's the real question behind suspense. Rosenfeld suggests that suspense is a state of uncertainty producing anxiety. And you know, it doesn't matter whether we're waiting for something good to happen or something bad to happen, the reader is still hanging on the edge of the precipice. And the longer you as writer delay the outcome of the scene, the more your readers will enjoy it. So which scenes are suspense scenes?

1. The protagonist starts out in trouble or quickly gets mired in danger
2. Emotional, physical, or spiritual stakes for the character get more complicated
3. Emotional intensity increases and does not let up
4. Events or characters exert pressure on the protagonist to change or to act in some way

Suspense scenes add emotional zip, raise the emotional ante, and complicate things. They're often used after descriptive, contemplative scenes or dialogue driven scenes that mostly give out plot information. They act as a counter, getting the reader and the protagonist excited and out of their comfort zone. They are also fast scenes that push your reader to keep reading, so they can sometimes be good lead-ins to revelations. Oddly enough, suspense scenes are usually relatively slow paced, focusing on details. The agony of waiting for resolution is what makes it seem fast. Don't rush it, you want to give the reader time to worry.

The opening of the suspense scene should make the reader worry about the protagonist. The protagonist doesn't have to be hanging over the edge yet, but he can certainly be glancing at it. Or you might want to simply have the protagonist picking up some details that aren't quite right -- who left their muddy shoes on the porch?

• introduce a catalyst or antagonist with intentions that the protagonist does not trust
• let a character or event threatened or pressure the protagonist who resists
• let your protagonist under pressure react or do something that causes unexpected conflict

Mood, setting, sensory details -- these are what really build the suspense scene. Don't overdo it (remember the pathetic fallacy, wherein the weather always reflects the protagonists feelings). But select details and words that show the reader that something is wrong.

• dramatic weather can threaten the characters, block their achievements, or simply complicate everything
• decay or other evidence of damage makes readers wonder if the protagonist will end up in the same shape
• color and light -- there is a reason that bad things happen in the dark -- it's scary!
• eerie touches can certainly add to the picture

Raising the stakes. When the character's fate changes or new complications come in, a suspense scene can dramatize the new directions.

Strange or surprising actions that challenge the normality and expectations of the protagonists and the reader can push suspense. The confusion of this unexpected action raises the pressure and anxiety.

Ending a suspense scene. You need to finish the action and give the reader a pause. This might be a reflection by the protagonists, or maybe some other kind of pause. You need to let the reader take a breath. Another way is to run the scene right out into a cliffhanger. If you do this, pick it up in the next scene.

Note that even thrillers usually don't have all suspense scenes. You need to give the reader a break.

Rosenfeld's key points about suspense scenes

1. Does the scene open in an uneasy or anxiety provoking way?
2. Does the protagonist quickly get into trouble?
3. Is there enough emotional intensity in the scene?
4. Do events or an antagonist put pressure on the protagonist through opposition?
5. Is gratification delayed? Are conclusions to scene events postponed, and are the intentions of characters blocked?
6. Does the scene's end break the suspense or are we left hanging?

So that is Chapter 13. Suspense, getting the hero in trouble and letting them stew.

Incidentally, I think such scenes are a kind of staple for every writer. Thriller, adventure, mystery, romance, science fiction -- maybe if you're writing nonfiction you don't need to write suspense scenes, but I'm not sure about that. So we really need to practice these, setting up the structure and doing it. Can you think of any kind of fiction that doesn't need at least some suspense scenes?

An exercise? Well, these are staples for TV, so how about taking a look at a TV show and picking out a suspense scene? Perhaps the car chase or race somewhere (don't all TV shows have one of those?). Or some other scene that makes you bite your fingernails? How did it start, and what about it makes you worry and fret? Now think about how you might produce similar effects in a written scene. You don't have the background muzak to help, but you have plenty of other tools. So . . .

Write!

The writer's job is to help readers see the invisible -- or at least worry that it's coming.