Comments on: Creating Tension on Every Page

By: annastan

annastan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:27:22 +0000

PJ, I’m about 100 pages in thus far and it’s SO creepy and interesting. I can’t wait to see what happens next, but I’m not letting myself read it anywhere near bedtime!

By: PJ Hoover

PJ Hoover — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:23:19 +0000

Oooh, I got this ARC, too, and I can’t wait to read it. It’s next when I finish what I’m currently reading.

By: annastan

annastan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:23:03 +0000

Terry, I got so much from Maass’s book when I read it. In fact, I’m tempted to go back and reread it to soak up more of its wisdom!

By: Terry Lynn Johnson

Terry Lynn Johnson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:36:24 +0000

I keep hearing about that book writing the breakout novel. sounds like a good one to read. Thanks.

By: annastan

annastan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:46:01 +0000

Heather, isn’t that such a tricky thing? But if you go through a revision looking specifically for tension, I think it can really help. Good luck!

Lisa, I agree that the right balance between external and internal tension can be stunning. If you set it in a world that’s inherently tense, it only adds to the excitement!

Laura, it seems like such a daunting task to put tension on every page, doesn’t it? But you’re right that good examples can be very inspiring. In fact, reading this book has me itching to go back and do some revising!

By: Laura Pauling

Laura Pauling — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:26:55 +0000

I haven’t read those books yet, but I want to. Adding tension to every page sounds easy, but it’s hard to pull off believably. I keep trying, and finding good examples is sometimes the best way to learn.

By: Lisa G.

Lisa G. — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:08:01 +0000

Cool – I haven’t read those yet, but they are definitely on my short list. I think that’s part of why I love this genre! It’s so easy to create such strong external tension – but what makes the greatest fantasy is the balance between that and the internal struggle.

By: Heather Kelly

Heather Kelly — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:58:04 +0000

I agree. This is what I’m looking at right now in my revision–keeping up the tension, and is it the right kind of tension?

By: annastan

annastan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:19:25 +0000

Thanks Amber! I have to constantly remind myself of this in my own writing. Keeping up the tension is SO hard!

By: Amber Lough

Amber Lough — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:02:51 +0000

Great post. It’s something I need to process in order to do it right in my own novel…