What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

Tension is created by placing characters in conflict with an opposing force (person, nature, society, self)

Pacing: short sentences and paragraphs speed up tension; long sentences slow the pace

Withholding information: the reader wants to know something the author does not yet reveal

Sensory details and atmosphere (sound, darkness, cold) build unease and dread

The "ticking clock" technique: a deadline or time pressure intensifies tension

Key Vocabulary

Tension

A sense of anxiety or suspense that makes readers want to keep reading

Pacing

The speed at which a narrative moves; controlled through sentence length, detail, and scene selection

Conflict

The struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot and creates tension

Atmosphere

The prevailing mood or feeling created by setting, description, and language choices

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

A writer wants to increase tension during a chase scene. Which technique would work BEST?

Write long, detailed sentences describing the scenery Switch to a flashback about the character's childhood Use short, fragmented sentences and sensory details Add a humorous aside about the character's shoes

Question 2

Which opening creates MORE narrative tension?

"It was a nice sunny day and Tom went to the park." "This story is about a boy called Tom and what happened to him." "Tom was a twelve-year-old boy who lived in a house." "The door at the end of the corridor had been locked for twenty years. Tom had never wondered why. Until today."

Question 3

What is the "ticking clock" technique in narrative writing?

Creating urgency by giving characters a deadline or time pressure Using a clock as a symbol in the story Writing stories set in the past Describing events in chronological order

Building Narrative Tension