Homework.

What did we learn the last time?

How do you plan to use that in your

composition?
So what’s next?
Developing
Suspense
Suddenly she froze. There was something coming up the street
on the opposite side. It was something black... Something tall
and black... Something very tall and very black and very thin. —
The BFG by Roald Dahl

Wary, she crept forward. The closer she came to the log, the
stronger grew a scent unfamiliar to her. She sensed trouble. She
was still sniffing when she heard the sound of a twig snapping
behind her. She spun about and gasped.
—Poppy by Avi
 Developing Suspense

What is suspense?
suspense as follows:
1. The state of being uncertain, undecided, or insecure,
usually accompanied by anxiety, apprehension, etc.
2. An uncertain or doubtful situation

Suspense is not the same as horror. It’s that feeling you get
when you can’t wait to see what happens next…
 Developing Suspense

How to include suspense

in your story?
In order to build suspense, then, the author must create some
uncertainty, anxiety, doubt, and apprehension. What the
dictionary doesn’t tell us is how difficult this can be!

The author already knows what is going to happen, who is

behind the door, what is making the spooky sound, and to
whom the mysterious footsteps belong. The trick is not to
give it away too soon!
Charles Dickens “You must make them laugh,
make them weep, but above all, make them
wait!”
3 ways to create
suspense…
Raising Story Questions

• Get inside the main character’s head and view the

story from his/her point of view.

• This helps the reader to wonder and worry along

with the main character.
Here’s an example of stating a question that the main
character is wondering about:

What was that noise? Was it just the wind or was it

something...or someone else?

The same thing can be done with dialogue:

“What was that noise?” he whispered. Was it just the wind or

was it something..., or someone, else?
It can also be done with a statement of concern, wonder, or
worry:

“I wonder if that noise is just the sound of the shutters banging

against the house.”

A statement of hope with an undercurrent of worry and

foreshadowing of a problem also works:

“I hope that noise isn’t a ghost,” she whispered.

Word Referents

• Word referents are words that stand for other

words.

• This technique teases the reader by holding back

some piece of important information
Daniel froze. It loomed over him, at least seven feet of matted
brown fur. It snarled and swatted at him with heavy, powerful
claws. Daniel stared, horrified at its yellowed teeth visible
behind its curled-back snout. The beast came closer and
closer to him and Daniel backed up, afraid to turn his back for
even a second.
Daniel saw the mean bear.
The Magic-Of-Three

• Sets up three hints

The First Hint.

The main character detects something amiss. Perhaps she

hears a noise or sees something out of the corner of her eye.
The hint might be visual or auditory, or it might involve any
of the five senses.

Nothing is discovered. The main character reacts.

(Probably dismisses the hint as just her imagination.)
The Second Hint.

The main character detects another hint, either something

different or a similar hint of greater intensity.

Again, nothing is discovered.

The main character exhibits a more intense reaction.

The Third Hint.

The main character detects a third hint, this one leading to a

discovery or revelation.
To put it simply...

HINT 1—No discovery/reaction

HINT 2—No discovery/bigger reaction
HINT 3—DISCOVERY
Jan heard a weird noise and found a ghost in
the closet.
How would you change this?
Jan reached for the knob with shaking hands. “Just
what is that noise?” said Jan.

Her heart raced in her chest as she slowly turned the

knob. The shuffling sounds seemed to be getting louder.

She took a deep breath and threw open the door. She
gasped!

A filmy white ghost hovered before her!

 1) Glenn saw a tiger on the jungle path.

2) Glenn saw a Pikachu.

How to create suspense:

1)Raising Story Questions

2)Word Referents
3)Magic of three
HINT 1—No discovery/reaction
HINT 2—No discovery/bigger reaction
HINT 3—DISCOVERY
Time to rewrite
your first story.