How to Create Tension in Your Story

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Tension is a critical aspect of creating drama. If you've ever been unable to stop turning the pages, it's probably because the story utilized tension to keep your attention on the story and keep you invested in the outcome. Tension makes the story feel significant. Let's look at what tension is, and a few ways to apply this concept to your story.
TIMSTAMPS:
0:00 - What is tension?
1:27 - Give the characters goals
5:29 - Don’t resolve, complicate
6:38 - A new course from Reedsy
7:00 - Watch timeline clarity
8:35 - Information management
10:06 - Raise the emotional stakes
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[@VideogamesWorld93]

This channel is pure gold!

[@MrQwefty]

A good way to complicate a plot point you want to conclude is to say "Yes, and..." and then progress it logically into a different plot arc

[@u_t_d_s_h-1_a]

Suspense helps a lot---I think... That's where anticipation plays its role.

[@meandera]

You are brilliant- thankyou!

[@cogsciai]

Which comes first, the complication or the character? It seems that when you're developing a character, you're choosing a person who is likely to find themselves in a situation with potential, complication or anticipation. Happy families don't qualify for creating tension, as Tolstoy suggests.

[@jeffj4440]

excellent video. thanks. just what I needed today

[@alyssathealchemist960]

How would you recommend transitioning while keeping tension in memoirs since they tend to cover more time and time you don’t want to mislead the reader about timeline?

[@rachelthompson9324]

Withholding is usually a mistake. However, if the reader knows something the MC doesn't know, that will rase the tension. This is why pinch points work so well. The reader sees trouble coming but the protag doesn't. Better if early trouble results in a twist or new trajectory they MC didn't anticipate.

[@brisingr14]

I need a knife to cut through all of this tension knowledge.

[@jayashreechakravarthy4949]

Jordan’s daughter is crippled, painfully.