Keeping your Reader on the Edge of Their Seat
By: Dawn Arkin
Mystery stories aren't just tales of who did what to whom. They are a collection of suspenseful scenes that lead the reader through a maze of events until the final curtain is drawn. What makes a great mystery is the writer's ability to keep the reader clutching their book until the last page is turned.
Every aspect of a mystery story should be used to build suspense. That is what they are for; to keep your readers on the edge of their seat. Remember, suspense isn't just keeping your readers in the dark about what is happening.
It is about making them feel the tension, live the fear of discovery, and revel in the joy of catching the villain. You want your reader to live the story through your character's eyes.
Plot twists are a wonderful way to build tension in a mystery story. When writing your story, be sure to make a plot that has shocks, sudden turns and surprising revelations. Do not let your reader become comfortable in the story; shake them up. Using red herrings, sudden character changes and even new victims can help keep your reader wondering, and waiting, for the next tidbit of information.
Create characters your readers will want to know more about to keep them reading. If your reader cannot identify with your characters, they will not care about what happens to them. Give them more than just hair and eye color, give them a reason to want to see your hero win and the villain lose. There are many wonderful ways to make your characters more real. One is to give them a habit, something they do not even think about doing. Like your heroine constantly pushing her glasses back up her nose. Little things like that will make them more real to your reader. And just when your reader thinks they know the character, give some information that shakes up their feelings towards the character.
Setting is another wonderful way to create a suspenseful mood. You want to choose a setting that matches the kind of story you are writing. If you are writing a gothic tale do not make your setting a lovely home in the country, unless you are trying to give your reader a false sense of security. Think about your plot, what kind of places comes to mind? Pick a location that fits your tale and has enough mystery to allow you to still shock your reader throughout the story.
Do not forget a great suspense building tool - a peek inside the criminal mind. You do not have to tell them who the bad guy is or what his plans are, but you can let them see into his thoughts and actions. Giving the reader first-hand insight to why the villain does what he/she does will add to their suspense. They will be waiting for the moment the hero comes upon the villain's handiwork.
Suspense helps makes a mystery story go round; as much as plot, characters or setting. Readers live for that edge-of-you-seat excitement, the force driving them to keep turning the page long after night has fallen and they should be in bed. Give your readers that feeling, and you will have a reader for life.
About the Author
Dawn Arkin is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/darkin so stop by and read for a while.