Ever watch a nail-biting sports game and find yourself on the edge of your seat? What if I told you that you could create that same gripping tension in your writing by doing ONE THING? It’s all about digging into the why—the secret sauce that makes scenes sizzle with tension. Let’s unpack this a bit.
Understanding Scene Tension
Creating tension isn’t just about throwing obstacles at your characters. To really make your readers sweat, you need to craft every scene with three critical components:
- The Goal: Every scene must have a clear, specific goal for your character. Without a goal, there’s no direction or purpose, and tension can’t build.
- The Obstacles: These are the hurdles or challenges that stand in the way of your character achieving their goal. But remember, obstacles alone don’t create tension.
- The Why: This is where the magic happens. Why does your character need to achieve that goal? What’s at stake if they fail? The answers to these questions create a compelling force that drives the scene forward.
The Tension Equation
Think about why we love close, competitive sports games so much. We root for our team (the sympathetic character) against their rivals (the obstacle), with high stakes driving every play. We’re glued to our seats because the outcome is uncertain. We need to believe our team might lose for the victory to feel rewarding and exciting. This same principle applies to writing.
Applying the “Why” in Your Writing
When you set up a scene, start by clearly defining your character’s goal. What do they want? Next, introduce the obstacles that will challenge them. But most importantly, focus on the why. Why is this goal crucial? What might happen if they fail? This is what turns a straightforward scene into a suspenseful, must-read experience.
The One Thing Challenge
Take a scene from your current project where the tension feels a bit flat. Now, redefine your character’s goal and clarify the obstacles. Then, dive deep into the why—really explore what’s at stake emotionally and practically. Now, rewrite.
You can do this! Go! Write something brilliant!
Have a fantastic writing week!