Definition
Suspense is the feeling of anxious anticipation that keeps a reader turning pages. It happens when you pose a question or threat that the reader urgently wants resolved but has to wait for. Think of it as the narrative equivalent of dangling someone over a cliff - they can't look away until they know if the character lands safely or falls.
Why It Matters
Without suspense, even beautifully written prose can feel flat. It is the engine that pulls your reader forward through a story, making them care about outcomes. Master it, and your readers will stay up way past their bedtime to finish your book.
Types of Suspense
Famous Examples
The entire novel is a masterclass in sustained suspense. The reader is kept anxious about the mystery of Rebecca and what really happened to her, with du Maurier doling out information in agonizing drips.
Collins uses the arena as a pressure cooker of suspense. Every chapter raises new threats, and the first-person present tense makes every moment feel immediate and uncertain.
Flynn splits the narrative between two unreliable perspectives, creating suspense not just about what happened, but about who is telling the truth.
Common Mistakes
Let your reader sit with the uncertainty. Delay the answer by intercutting with a subplot or slowing the pacing right before the reveal.
Surprise is a one-time jolt (a twist you did not see coming). Suspense is prolonged dread. You need the reader to sense danger before it arrives, not just be shocked by it.
If readers already know everything, there is nothing to be anxious about. Control what you reveal and when. Strategic withholding is your best friend.
Try It Yourself
Write a 500-word scene where a character returns home to find their front door slightly open. Build suspense by controlling what the character sees, hears, and feels as they move through the house. Focus on slowing the pacing and using sensory details to stretch out the uncertainty before revealing what is inside.
See Where Your Suspense Peaks and Valleys Are
Novelium's pacing analysis shows you the emotional intensity curve of your manuscript, helping you spot where suspense sags so you can tighten the screws.