When writing stories and novels, authors may have to consider a question: how to attract readers to continue reading their own works.
Therefore, by arousing readers' curiosity, the author can hold readers' curiosity by setting suspense, so that readers are willing to read works with suspense.
The suspense mentioned in Creative Writing involves four key words: people, fate, plot and development. In a literary work, the part guided by these four keywords is also the part that readers pay most attention to when reading the work.
As readers, when reading novels and stories, we might as well feel what we want to know and care about most. Then, compare the above four items to see if you have similar feelings.
After understanding the reading psychology of readers, the author can attract readers and set corresponding suspense when writing novels and stories.
So, how to set suspense in the works?
First,? Big suspense and small suspense.
Small suspense refers to a single suspense, which is a local tension that may occur at any time during the development of the story. The setting methods of small suspense are: starting from the topic, starting from the beginning and ending with suspense.
Great suspense refers to the interweaving of multiple suspense, which is the main conflict focus of the story. It runs through the whole text, like a series of stories, and is solved one by one with the progress of the plot. Suspense is closely linked.
Second, expect suspense and sudden suspense.
The book Creative Writing defines these two concepts as follows:
We understand that different suspense settings will have different effects. The book Creative Writing lists six suspense setting methods.
First, the time suspense method: plus the time limit, the characters complete the possible tasks in the "impossible time".
Second, the secret suspense method: add the "secret" element, use the secret to create a mysterious atmosphere, and cast a veil over the behavior and psychology of the characters.
3. Coincidence suspense method: add the element of "coincidence", use coincidence to change the relationship between characters, create misunderstandings and conflicts between characters, and promote the development of stories.
Fourth, the suspense method of character identity: add character identity and use character identity to create conflicts, including internal conflicts and external conflicts.
Fifth, the dangerous suspense method: add the element of "danger" and burn a "dangerous fire" to the character's situation.
Sixth, the unknown suspense method: add the "unknown" element to push all the known to the unknown.
In addition to directly setting suspense, the author can also pave the way.
Foreshadowing is a way to plan the layout of articles.
What kind of foreshadowing can an author set when writing a work? The book Creative Writing tells us the following points:
(1) foreshadowing of identity: For example, Lin Daiyu's previous identity was foreshadowed in A Dream of Red Mansions, and this life can only end in a tragedy of "dying with tears".
(2) Plot preparation: For example, A Dream of Red Mansions first visited the Grand View Garden from Grandma Liu, and then came into contact with Wang Xifeng and her daughter Qiaojie.
(3) Environmental foreshadowing: refers to a special environment, including natural environment and social environment, which can be used as a foreshadowing to provide "the right time, the right place and the right people" for the following stories.
(4) Gossip foreshadowing: seemingly unrelated words actually hide mystery and set the stage for the following.
(5) True and false foreshadowing: There are many foreshadowing in this paper, including true foreshadowing and false foreshadowing. The author will confuse readers with false foreshadowing, but what really works is the real foreshadowing.