Tuesday, April 6, 2010

E is for Enormous Trouble

Remember watching cartoons when you were younger and they showed a pebble rolling down a snowy mountain? The pebble picked up speed and snow and by the time it got to the village below it was an enormous. That’s kind of what needs to happen in a suspense novel. The heroine needs to get into "E" is for Enormous trouble, try to solve it…leading to more and more trouble. Hot water is the order of the day.

This technique keeps the reader’s interest, because a high level of emotion is compelling. The problem with so much of conflict is that after while; your character starts to look like a crap-magnet. It’s unlikely that a meteor, a devastating misunderstanding, and an evil villain would all befall your main character at once…if at all. So how to remedy?

Conflict has to build, like a slow pressure pushing upwards. I try not to have my heroine’s home fire-bombed by savage gang member right away. I save it for the middle of the book. Hitchcock was a master at building suspense. Strange comments, near misses, and internal struggle all kept me on the edge of my seat. I learned some great lessons from him. For one, keeping the reigns on the drama, letting it building it gradually, leaves room for suspense.

Men with Pens, has a great article on escalating conflict within interpersonal relationships, if you’re interested. I’ve recently gone back over my book, Ruby Dawn, in revisions to take a second look at my pace and romantic subplot. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I wonder what gives you the most trouble when building tension in your work.  Do you have any tricks or tips you'd like to share?

Until next time…Go Write!

Photograph by kamshots, Uploaded on february 9, 2007. Photograph by Roberto Verzo, Uploaded on August 1, 2009.