Suspense and anticipation - Techniques that command attention - Tweak

Writing FAST - Jeff Bollow 2012

Suspense and anticipation
Techniques that command attention
Tweak

Hey, on this topic of suspense and anticipation, I think you’re gonna really love Chapter 17. It’s got a few segments that just make the whole book “click.” But I’ve got to warn you. If you try to skip ahead, it won’t work. It won’t make sense. It needs all the chapters before it to make it work.

See, this book is a puzzle. Just like the FAST System itself. Each step builds upon the last. So when you get to the end, it all snaps into place. And it’ll take your breath away. Especially when it has time to sink in.

See what I’m doing? I’m building suspense. (Admittedly not very well, but you get the idea.) I’m trying to give you a sense of anticipation. Why?

Because if you look forward to what’s coming, you’ll keep reading. It’s as simple as that.

Just be sure your payoff lives up to its setup! (And don’t worry, the FAST System does. Although, if you’re astute, you can see that I just did it again. I love doing that.)

The whole time you’re reading, you’re anticipating what’s coming. Every word, every sentence, every segment, every chapter, every section. Anticipation. You think it’s going this way.

But if the writer turns it — makes it go that way, instead — you stay intrigued. As long as she doesn’t ignore those expectations and leave you hanging, you’ll continue reading.

Your own writing needs the same thing. Read each sentence in your work, and Tweak the anticipation factor. Keep the reader guessing. Build the suspense.

As you re-read your work, ask yourself what the reader is anticipating at this point. Satisfy that expectation, but in a way he wasn’t expecting, and he’ll stay glued to your page.