Surprise vs. Suspense: How to Build and Pair Them in Your Writing

Plus, get a handy checklist for NaNoWriMo prep! [Web Version »]( &p1=%40ntUYZXfUWYxGu0uNRCLr2aInC2kBMhep20IhifkQWLU%3D) [header]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Name]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Surprise vs. Suspense: How to Build and Pair Them in Your Writing]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Story 1]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) by Jane K. Cleland In 1962, Alfred Hitchcock and Francois Truffaut discussed their work during a marathon session that lasted for days. The two great directors and their French/English interpreter barely paused for meals. It was during this conversation that Hitchcock outlined his famous surprise versus suspense scenario -- the bomb planted in the cafe. He used this example to demonstrate that, contrary to popular belief, suspense is far more engaging than surprise. Here's how it goes: Say you have a scene where two characters are talking in a cafe, and a bomb suddenly goes off under the table. The unexpected action will make the audience experience surprise. Your readers' emotional and physiological reactions are likely to be similar to the heart-stopping adrenaline rush a child feels the first time he opens a jack-in-the-box. Can you remember your first time? If you're like most people, you were startled, and for a few seconds the experience was all consuming. You didn't think of anything else; you didn't notice anything else. Your entire focus was on processing what just happened. That's the power of surprise. Contrast that experience with this one: You witness a man approach a café where two people are drinking coffee, enjoying a pleasant morning chat. You see the man step behind a column and turn an old-fashioned alarm clock to 1:00. It's taped to a bomb. A clock mounted on a nearby wall informs you it's 12:45. You watch as the clock ticks down the time. Now it's 12:49. The people keep chatting. Now 12:52. The woman laughs. It's 12:57. They finish their coffee. And now it's 12:59. How do you feel now? If you're like most people, you're holding your breath, waiting for the explosion -- or for a hero to rush in and save the day. This approach, revealing to the viewer or the reader what's going on while the unsuspecting characters chatter on, translates into 15 minutes of suspense. All the immediate explosion bought us was 15 seconds of surprise. [Don't miss Jane's sessions at the 2018 [Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference]( ) in Pasadena, CA, October 26–28!] The difference between the immediate explosion and the one we anticipate is that in the latter example, we were fully informed. While the surprise flared up, catching you unaware, the suspense slowly burned, drawing you in. Thus the question arises: If suspense is so much more gripping than surprise, and if the effect is more lasting, why employ surprise at all? The answer provides a twofold peek into the writer's toolbox. First, surprise can spark delight in a reader all on its own, and second, it is one of the most reliable ways to launch your readers into situations fraught with heightened tension -- a cornerstone of suspense. To keep your readers on the edge of their seats, you need to integrate surprises that lead slowly, inexorably and with deadly calm, to suspense. In order to do so, you need to understand what makes a surprise effective. The Anatomy of Surprise There are good surprises, such as an unanticipated visit from a much-loved distant friend or relative, and bad surprises, such as an unexpected cancer diagnosis. Good or bad, all surprises share one key characteristic -- they're unforeseen. Integrating surprise into your stories can delight, intrigue, captivate, titillate, move, worry and/or inspire your readers. The trick is to set up such surprises so they feel fitting, not merely plunked down for effect. [Read More...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) Advertisement Like the idea of making a living as a writer, but don't know how to do it? Sign up to get instant access to our free training webinar: 9-Step Blueprint for Becoming a Well-Paid Copywriter or Content Writer. This proven blueprint has been used by thousands of writers to navigate the abundant opportunity of copy and content projects, and meet the ever-growing demand for quality writers. We'll walk you through each step to ensure your success... If you've been holding back from pursuing your dream of living the writer's life because you don't know what steps you need to take … Or, if you have been moving forward, and have gotten stuck... Or, even if you could just use a little bit of guidance with where you are right now on the path to well-paid writing... This training is for you! Sign up to get instant access [here]( ) [Story 4]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [How to Use Tarot Cards to Generate Story Ideas]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) "The exercises conveyed the importance of creating a visual in your writing -- an image that evokes an emotion or idea." Erika Hoffman details her experience in a writing workshop that challenged participants to use tarot cards to generate story ideas through a series of writing exercises. [Read More...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [NaNoWriMo (and NaNonFiWriMo) Prep: Your 30-Day Writing Challenge Preparation Checklist]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Story 2]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) When approaching NaNoWriMo prep (or NaNonFiWriMo for nonfiction writers), you must create a strategy before the event to help you maintain a positive and enthusiastic mindset and productive habits no matter what life throws your way during that 30-day period. [Read More...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) Advertisement [sarahlawrence]( ) [Story 3]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) Few authors have better embedded believable and/or accurate scientific information within an engrossing story like Michael Crichton. This article explores the tactics Crichton used to craft realistic science fiction within one of his most popular novels, Sphere. [Read More...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [How to Write Better Titles: 7 Effective Title Tips for Books, Articles, and Conference Sessions]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Story 5]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) Readers make snap judgements on what to read or not read. And they often rely on titles of books, articles, blog posts, and conference sessions to make those decisions. As such, writers must learn how to write better titles to find more success with their writing. Robert Lee Brewer explains how. [Read More...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Story 4]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Live Webinar Tomorrow (10/17): What Every Author Should Know About Book Cover Design]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) While few authors have the creative skills to design their own book covers, understanding the design process and how covers impact sales is critical to working directly with a freelance designer or your publisher's marketing team, and offering productive feedback. Learn: - What design terms and concepts should all authors be familiar with? - How does the book cover design process work for trade and indie authors? - What are the differences between cover design for print and ebooks? - How can a book cover impact reviews and sales? Join us live on Wednesday, October 17 at 1 PM EDT for this free Writer's Digest webinar featuring Suanne Laqueur, Patrick Knowles, Ricardo Fayet and WD's Jess Zafarris to learn everything you need to know about book cover design, and get insightful tips on how to get the best covers possible for your books. This webinar is sponsored by Reedsy. [Read More...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) &p1={EMAIL}&p2=139446692 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=139446692 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=139446692 [Name]( ) [Your Weekly Writing Prompt]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [wd-logo]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) Lost Dog: The family dog has been missing for weeks, and everyone is devastated (except that one family member, of course). Suddenly, the dog returns, showing up out of nowhere. Almost everyone rejoices. But as time goes by, it becomes clear that something isn't quite right with the beloved canine companion... [Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments here ...]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) [Jess Zafarris]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) Jess Zafarris Follow [@jesszafarris]( ) Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more than 8 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of Writer's Digest. Please do not reply to this email. We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Please [click here to contact us]( ). This email was sent by: F+W, 10151 Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA [Unsubscribe or Manage Subscriptions]( &cid=DM77193&bid=784056331) | [Web Version »]( &p1=%40ntUYZXfUWYxGu0uNRCLr2aInC2kBMhep20IhifkQWLU%3D) We respect your right to privacy. [View our policy.]( )