Writing Tips
What Makes a Page-Turner?
4 ways to increase tension and take your writing to the next level
The absolute worst description an author could hear about their work is that it was boring.
But want makes the different between a book readers can’t put down and one that they never finish?
While there are large issues that contribute to good story (a solid plot, interesting characters, etc.), many authors overlook how much the mechanics of tension can bring to a story.
I’ll list them in order of easier to more time consuming to fix. Start easy, and you’ll be surprised how much your writing will elevate. Commit to all, and you’re on your way to mastering tension.
Easy fix: Have your character announce their plan
The easiest way to engage a reader is for a character outline their foolproof plan. Think of every heist movie — the brains behind the operation clearly explains what they need to do, and says it should be a straightforward job. Do you believe it? Heck, no. But you keep watching to see exactly how things go awry.
This device isn’t only for heist or adventure stories. Any story can benefit from stated intentions gone to pot.
- Romance? The instant a protagonist makes a plan to have the love interest fall for them, readers know drama will ensue.
- Horror? How many plots have started with a car breaking down in a rural area and the character deciding they’ll stay overnight and call a tow truck or hike out to find help the next morning once a storm has cleared?
- Mystery? The case is never solved the way the sleuth anticipates in the beginning.
And what about creative non-fiction? Readers are hooked when the end result of a story (often described up front) doesn’t match the protagonist’s intent at the beginning, before events unfold.
The easiest way to develop intrigue is for a character to have a plan… and make sure things don’t go according to that plan.
Might need minor edits: Have a character say something other than what they mean
If tension comes from intrigue, having a character speak or act in a way that communicates something to other characters that is different from how they feel inside is a sure way to spark reader curiosity.
Readers can smell conflict hundreds of pages in advance, and they keep reading to watch the drama unfold.
How do you do this? Internal thoughts. Before the character speaks, give the reader a hint (or the whole weight) of the protagonist’s opinion. If they think a plan is doomed to fail, have them worry internally about that plan, but then realize due to group dynamics they can’t speak up. Not only does this help the reader bond with the character, but now the reader is on edge, sure that something will definitely go wrong. And they’ll have to turn the page to see what happens.
Requires some revisions: Examine chapter beginnings and endings
Tension comes from expectations and anticipation. The author follows through on a promise to the reader that events will not go exactly as expected in the story. Effectively delivering tension assures your reader that this story will not be boring — it will entertain. The goal is to make it so the reader can’t bear to put your book down between chapters because they must find out what happened.
How do you keep a reader turning pages?
1. Start in the action, end on a cliffhanger.
J.S. Wong recently wrote a great overview of constructing scenes and touched on both of these. Essentially, you want the reader to be hooked from the first line, needing to know what happens next and anticipating what might happen in the scene, as well as completely invested in an ending that leaves out just enough information to make them need more.
For each beginning, wonder how the reader might worry about the scene, or root for a particular outcome. For each ending, how can you hint at what comes next and how it might not be expected?
Beware of too many cliffhangers, though. If every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, the device becomes predictabl and boring. Vary the severity and type of ending to keep readers on their toes.
2. Ensure the emotion of a scene changes significantly from beginning to end.
Unfortunately, I can’t remember where I first encountered this tip (and if you might know, please throw the name in the comments!), but it’s a solid method to builds inherent tension from start to finish.
If the chapter begins with hopeful anticipation, it should end in a moment of despair, frustration, or fear. When a chapter begins with worry, instead of ending the chapter on a positive resolution, take the chapter one step further and show a little about what comes next and how it might go wrong. This is always a great place for a character to state their plan with great confidence — the reader will want to start the next chapter right away to see what goes wrong with that plan.
Takes time but worth the effort: Misalign characters from the start
This may require some significant revisions, but the result is worth it. Well-constructed characters in diametric opposition create an inherent conflict that’s always buzzing beneath the surface.
If a protagonist is a worrier, or someone who always must have a plan, then the character they interact with the most should be the opposite. Pair them with somebody who lives in the moment and eschews plans, and immediately there’s tension between the two for as long as they must interact.
Or, if the protagonist is confident about their plan and the way of the world, have a secondary character or someone close to them voice concern about the protagonist’s view. Make the reader worry.
On a simpler note, this difference of opinions can also be used in small doses to great effect. When characters discuss what they are going to do next, have them move forward without full agreement. Even better, have one of them state their discomfort or doubt. That injection of disagreement leaves an underlying tension between them as they face what comes next.
The bottom line
When it comes to pages read, and eager readers, predictability is the enemy. Inject tension for the overall scene, in the very existence of characters, and within conversations to create doubt and fulfill the promise unpredictability for the reader.
Even if you just start with the simplest method and add a paragraph where the protagonist states their plan, your overall story will be better for it.
Happy writing!
Elizabeth Russo is an editor and author with a passion for helping new writers navigate the process of turning a good story into a publishable manuscript. She’s a Florida Writers Association Top Ten Short Story winner, a returning Royal Palm Literary Award judge, and an active member of the Florida Writers Association, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, ACES: The Society for Editing, and the Editorial Freelancers Association. Have questions? Reach out!
