Writing Fundamentals: Creating Suspense

The first meet up ever for the Austin Page Turners. Please review our group page to understand what we're all about!

Recommended Reading

Before the meet up, read some of these short stories. They employ very effective techniques to heighten the tension.

“The Lady, or the Tiger?” (1882) by Frank Stockton
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (1890) by Ambrose Bierce
“Home” (1953) by Gwendolyn Brooks
“All at One Point” (1965) by Italo Calvino
“And of Clay We Are Created” (1991) by Isabelle Allende
“A Conversation from the Third Floor” (1994) by Mohamed El-Bisatie
“Grace Period” (2011) by Will Baker
“Redeployment” (2011) by Phil Klay
“Black Box” (2012) by Jennifer Egan

This article also gives very practical advice.

Agenda

• 7 - 7:15 Show up and park. Get settled. Get to know each other.
• 7:15 - 7:45 Discuss the following questions:
• How do you write scenes? Do you follow any general guidelines?
• How do you add suspense to scenes?
• Were there any examples from the recommended readings that you enjoyed? Why?
• 7:45 - 8:05 (ish) Writing prompt 1.
• 8:05 - 8:15. Short break. Get another beverage or share your writing with others.
• 8:15 - 8:35 (ish) Writing prompt 2
• 8:35 - end Debrief
• How were the prompts? Feel inspired? Get an idea for a story?
• Can you use tonight's techniques in your own work in progress?
• What topic would you like to cover in next month's meet up?