Ever read a book where the tension just did not deliver? Conflict was set up, devastation delivered then all resolved on the next page, or worse, the next paragraph?

Yeah, me too.

Tension is that part of the story telling that keeps the reader on edge. Conflict ebbs and flows, devastation is resolved, or handled, perhaps escalated, but tension is the one element we must maintain.

In our physical world, we use tension to keep a cable or rope taunt. No trapeze artist wants to walk on a lose high wire, right? It’s the tauntness of our stories that hold it together.

But most of us don’t like tension. We don’t want to walk into a room and get the cold shoulder or get ignored. The stiff remarks between family members at Thanksgiving dinner makes our stomachs knot.

But fiction thrives on tension. We must have it.

How do we decide tension? First, as you begin a scene, think of how you can move your protagonist farther away from his or her goal. What can go wrong?

Now, hold on. Don’t have something go wrong for the sake of going wrong. Chick lit offended here with the pratfall, the office gossip that revealed the protagonist’s secrets, or the spilling of coffee or fowl language. That’s not tension. That’s just “stuff happens.”

Tension is the underlying tauntness that holds the conflict and the devastation together, driving the protagonist away from the story question or overall goal is what you want.

If I want to drive up I-95 to the mall, what are possible obstacles? Traffic jam. A wreck. My car breaks down. A road detour taking me way out of my way.

Now what kind of tension does it create? Road rage? Snippy conversation with my husband when he calls. Speeding, thus a speeding ticket. Well, you get the picture.

Tension is created four ways: Dialog, Description, Action and Tone.

Let’s set up a scenario: Two newlyweds are working out the mechanics of their marriage. After a few days of spats, she wants to create a homey atmosphere for her husband. She took off work early to grocery shop. She bought candles. She cleaned house.

He comes home and… Scene.

The key in the door told Susie her man was home. Surprised at her fluttering heart, she pressed her hand to her chest as she listened for his, “Hey, babe, I’m home.”

Instead, sharp footsteps echoed down the hall, against the hardwood. His keys clanked against the desk.

“Hey, Andrew, I’m in the kitchen.”

“Be out in a minute.”

Susie heard the click of his old lamp, the creek of his college chair, and angled around to see a lone cone of pale light slicing the darkness. “Andrew?”

“I said in a minute.”

End Scene

Okay, I just threw that together to give you an idea of tension. Susie is excited for Andrew to be home, but apparently he’s had a bad day. We feel and hear the tension on the scene with the clipped dialog, the footfalls on the floor, a lone light in the darkness.

I have a feeling Susie isn’t getting her romantic dinner.

In Sweet Caroline, my heroine’s story question is “what do I do with this money pit Cafe?” She stuck with it until probate ends, and in the mean time she’s dealing with money and structural problems.

Not long after she takes over command, Caroline learns the former owner booked a 90th birthday party for a family matriarch. Everyone is coming. Caroline rises to the occasion only to have the Cafe itself betray her.

On the day of the party, the electricity fails. Bad wiring. This creates all kinds of tension keeping with the over all goal and story point. It created tension within Caroline, with her employees, with her customer.

In the end, she finds a solution to satisfy all, but don’t worry, the next bit of Cafe tension is around the corner… bad plumbing!

You must have several layers of tension going on, too. I had tension with the Cafe, with Caroline’s family, with herself, with her love interests. And, a time or to, the town.

Layer in the tension. Your readers will love you for it.

So, let’s recap. Tension is the tauntness that keeps your readers turning the page. If you have a relaxed, happy moment, devastation ladened with tension should be on it’s way.

Tension is communicated through the dialog, the character’s action, the setting description and the tone of the writing.

See you over on Voices!