What are some effective ways to create suspense and tension in your plot?

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Plot development is the process of creating and organizing the events and actions that make up your story. A well-developed plot can engage your readers, build suspense and tension, and deliver a satisfying resolution. But how do you develop a plot that keeps your readers hooked and interested?

Here are some exercises that can help you improve your plot development skills.

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Eunice Oladeji

1 Identify your plot points

Plot points are essential events or changes that shape the narrative of a story. These plot points can be external, such as a conflict, a discovery, or a twist, or internal, such as a decision, a realization, or a change of attitude. Generally, plot points are found at the beginning, middle, and end of a story, and they are used to introduce, complicate, and resolve the main conflict. To identify plot points, consider the following questions: What is the inciting incident that sets the story in motion? What is the first major obstacle or challenge that the protagonist faces? What is the midpoint, or the turning point, that alters the direction or the stakes of the story? What is the climax, or the highest point of tension and conflict, that the protagonist must overcome? What is the resolution, or the outcome of the story, that demonstrates how the protagonist has changed or grown?

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Eunice Oladeji
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Your plot points need to be strategically placed so they are not lost on your audience. These points determine the pace of the story, decide how vested your audience would be in what occurs after the plot point, and in some cases, even draw your audience back to what had happened prior.

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2 Outline your scenes

Crafting a scene is an essential part of constructing a plot. It requires a specific time and place, and should be used to progress the story, reveal characters, and evoke interest and emotion. To outline a scene, consider the characters involved and their goals and motivations, the setting and how it affects the mood and tone, the conflict and how it creates tension and suspense, the outcome and how it moves the story forward or backward, and the hook and how it encourages readers to continue. All of these elements are integral to creating a captivating scene.

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Eunice Oladeji
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Do not rob your audience of their imagination. It is understandable that you want them to see the scene through your eyes and through the characters you have developed. At the same time, your audience needs to be empowered to also fill in some gaps. Describe a character and leave them wondering about one feature, or two. You could give a tease about it but leave it to them to make the conclusion. Filling all the gaps not only robs your audience of their imagination, it could be overwhelming and distracting from the plot.

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3 Experiment with different structures

Structuring your narrative is essential for creating a cohesive and impactful story. There are various structures you can use to shape your plot, such as the three-act structure, the hero's journey, the snowflake method, or the save the cat method. Each of these structures has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you can select the one that best fits your genre, style, and preference. To explore the different structures, try applying them to your plot outline and observe how they affect your story. For instance, how does the three-act structure divide your story into a beginning, a middle, and an end? How does the hero's journey demonstrate your protagonist's transformation and growth? How does the snowflake method help you expand your plot from a simple concept to a complex story? And how does the save the cat method assist you in creating a captivating and sympathetic protagonist?

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4 Rewrite your plot from different perspectives

Perspective is an integral part of storytelling, as it can shape how readers interpret characters, plot, and theme. To add a unique spin to your story, consider using different types of perspectives, such as first person, third person, or omniscient. By changing the narrator or focal character, you can gain a new perspective on your plot. For instance, first person perspective can make your plot more personal and intimate, while third person perspective can make it more objective and distant. On the other hand, omniscient perspective can make your plot more comprehensive and insightful.

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Marc Raco

Creative Pro, Podcast Leader and Pioneer, Award-Winning Content Audio and Video Creator, Producer, Editor, Former Linktree
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Everyone -- and every character -- has a unique perspective, a one-of-a-kind lens through which they view the world and their journey. The best acting often comes because everyone (even the villains) believe in their own point of view. They may not think they're evil, for example. Thinking of an event, plot point, action, character, place, etc., through various lenses of the various characters, you can then decide which point of view that moment in a story should be told. Which perspective makes the storytelling the most intriguing, perhaps the most unexpected, and therefore creates a kind of conflict? For example: how could the story be different if told through the voice and experience of the evil character, instead of the hero?

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5 Test your plot with feedback

Feedback is an invaluable tool for improving your plot, as it can provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses, the gaps and inconsistencies, and the questions and suggestions that your plot generates. To get the most out of feedback, it is important to share your plot outline or draft with someone who can give you honest and constructive criticism. To ensure that you receive the most useful feedback, ask for specific and focused comments, such as: what are the most and least interesting, believable, clear, and satisfying parts of your plot?

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W. W. Webb

Filmmaker — Screenwriter — Photographer
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Since the late nineties, I've recruited a circle of first readers who I trust to provide honest and useful feedback. One in particular goes through my work page by page, often line by line, sharing what she found enjoyable or confusing in both the narrative and dialogue. In addition, I've enrolled in writing workshops where participants could exchange their material for detailed evaluation. Over the years, public readings of my plays and scripts have offered three invaluable benefits: — The blessing of actors performing my characters. If anyone stumbles over a line, that area becomes a priority for revision. — The audience's reactions, such as laughter or gasps of surprise. — The feedback of participants and attendees afterward.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Eunice Oladeji
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Sometimes, you need to follow the ‘cliche’ pathway of your story first. Then, go back to it and find alternate pathways. Trying to toe a unique pathway from the start can contribute to writer’s block or what is often described as a stump in your flow. Your brain is tasked with what it sees as nigh impossible and it just shuts down. Get the juices pumping by going with the usual, common, ‘natural’ flow. And when that’s done, look for the places where the unusual can be enthroned.

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What are some effective ways to create suspense and tension in your plot?

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2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your plot points

2 Outline your scenes

3 Experiment with different structures

4 Rewrite your plot from different perspectives

5 Test your plot with feedback

6 Here’s what else to consider

Writing

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What are some effective ways to create suspense and tension in your plot?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your plot points

2 Outline your scenes

3 Experiment with different structures

4 Rewrite your plot from different perspectives

5 Test your plot with feedback

6 Here’s what else to consider

Writing

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