How to make your writing suspenseful - Victoria Smith

Summary

This video explores the art of crafting suspense in horror storytelling, emphasizing that true fear often lies in the unknown. It highlights key techniques, such as limiting the point of view to align the audience's knowledge with that of the characters, using evocative settings, and manipulating narrative style and form to enhance tension. Dramatic irony and cliffhangers are also discussed as powerful tools to maintain audience engagement, leaving them anxious for resolution. By mastering these techniques, writers can effectively heighten suspense and keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Takeaways

• 😀 Good horror stories rely on suspense and the fear of the unknown, rather than just explicit horror elements.
• 🤔 Suspense involves setting up questions for the audience and delaying answers to maintain interest.
• 🏰 Effective settings for horror include old mansions and castles, which suggest hidden disturbances.
• 🌌 Imagery like nighttime and storms can enhance feelings of fear by limiting visibility and movement.
• ✍️ The style and form of storytelling are crucial; pacing and structure can build suspense significantly.
• 🎭 Dramatic irony allows the audience to know crucial information while the characters remain unaware, adding tension.
• 🌀 Classic examples of dramatic irony include stories like 'Oedipus Rex', where the audience anticipates the character's realization.
• ⏳ Cliffhangers can effectively create suspense by cutting off moments just before crucial revelations or disasters.
• 🚫 Overuse of cliffhangers can be seen as a cheap trick, but they still remain effective in engaging the audience.
• 📚 Classic horror techniques, such as those found in 'Dracula' and works by Edgar Allan Poe, emphasize emotional responses through suspense.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme is the importance of suspense in horror storytelling and the techniques writers can use to create it.

How does H.P. Lovecraft define fear in horror stories?

H.P. Lovecraft states that 'the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown,' emphasizing that suspense arises from not revealing horrors too soon.

What are some familiar examples of suspense mentioned in the script?

Familiar examples of suspense include questions like 'What's inside the haunted mansion?' and 'Which of the dinner guests is the murderer?'

What is one technique to limit the audience's knowledge in a story?

One technique is to limit the point of view, telling the story from the characters' perspectives so that both the audience and characters share the same limited information.

Why are certain settings, like old mansions, effective in horror stories?

Settings like old mansions create an atmosphere of mystery and hidden dangers, enhancing the sense of suspense through their eerie and often isolated characteristics.

How does style and form contribute to building suspense?

Style and form can enhance suspense by manipulating the narrative pace and structure, as seen in Edgar Allan Poe's use of fragmented sentences in 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'

What is dramatic irony, and how is it used in storytelling?

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows key information that the characters do not. This technique builds suspense by making the audience anticipate when and how the characters will learn the truth.

What is a cliffhanger, and why is it considered effective?

A cliffhanger is a narrative device that ends a chapter or scene just before a crucial moment, creating anticipation and engagement, which keeps readers eager for what happens next.

How can everyday objects be used to create a sense of fear?

Everyday objects can take on sinister qualities, as demonstrated in the Gothic novel 'Rebecca,' where the protagonist's flowers are described as blood red, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

What role does pacing play in suspenseful storytelling?

Pacing is crucial in suspenseful storytelling, as it determines how quickly or slowly information is revealed, allowing writers to build tension and maintain audience interest.