How to create suspense in short stories?

Well, one way is to have a ticking clock element. Make the readers feel like time is running out for the characters. Another is to give the characters impossible choices. And don't forget to play with the readers' expectations - make them think one thing is going to happen and then surprise them!

Start with a mysterious opening. Don't reveal everything upfront. Let the readers wonder and ask questions.

They often use things like an unknown threat. For instance, in a story, there might be a shadowy figure that the main character keeps seeing but doesn't know who it is. This makes the reader wonder what the figure will do.

They often use settings. For example, if it's set in a desolate place like a desert island or a post - apocalyptic wasteland, the unknown of the environment creates suspense. The reader wonders how the character will find food, water, and shelter.

To create suspense in short fiction, you can start with an intriguing opening. Maybe start with a strange situation or a mysterious character. Then, use cliffhangers at the end of short sections within the story. This makes the reader eager to keep going. Also, play with the readers' expectations. For instance, make them think a character is safe and then suddenly put them in danger. And don't reveal all the details too soon. Let the mystery build up.

To create suspense, a plot in a short story can play with the reader's expectations. The author can introduce a seemingly normal situation and then gradually twist it into something unexpected. For example, a story about a family dinner that suddenly turns into a nightmarish event. Also, the pacing of the plot matters. Slow down the action when the tension is building, like when a character is approaching a haunted place in a short story. Describe every little detail, every creaking floorboard, to make the reader feel the suspense.

A crime short story can create suspense in several ways. Firstly, by introducing an unreliable narrator. The reader is constantly doubting what they are being told, which adds to the tension. Secondly, the use of foreshadowing. Hinting at future events without giving away too much makes the reader eager to find out what will happen. And thirdly, having multiple suspects with equally valid motives keeps the reader guessing about who the real criminal is. For instance, if all the suspects seem to have a good reason for wanting the victim dead, the reader will be on the edge of their seat trying to figure it out.

One way is through the use of setting. For example, describe a dark, abandoned alley where the crime took place. The overgrown weeds, the broken streetlights, and the damp walls can all add to the sense of unease. Another way is to delay the revelation of key information. Don't immediately show who the culprit is. Let the reader wonder as the detective follows different leads. For instance, introduce several suspects with their own motives and alibis, making the reader guess which one is the real criminal.

Goosebumps short stories build suspense through pacing. They start slow, introducing the characters and the normal setting. Then, little by little, they introduce the abnormal elements. The author also uses foreshadowing. Maybe a character mentions something small, like a strange noise they heard last night, and later it turns out to be a big part of the horror. This makes the reader constantly anticipate what will happen next.

Suspense in a stalking short story can be created in multiple ways. Firstly, the author can use a slow - burn approach. Start with small, almost imperceptible signs of stalking, like the victim noticing that their things have been slightly moved in their house or that they keep getting hang - up calls. As the story progresses, these incidents escalate. The author can also play with the point of view. If the story is told from the victim's point of view, the reader experiences the same confusion and fear as the character. Additionally, introducing false leads can be effective. For example, the victim might suspect a friend or neighbor of being the stalker, only to find out later that it's someone completely different. This keeps the reader guessing and the suspense high.