One way to create tension is through jealousy. Maybe the mother feels the husband is giving the daughter too much attention, or the daughter resents the mother's closeness to the husband. For example, if the husband helps the daughter with her school project more than he helps the mother with household chores, it can cause friction.
Differing values can also create tension. Suppose the husband is very traditional and wants the daughter to follow a certain path, while the mother is more liberal and encourages the daughter to explore. This clash of ideas can lead to arguments and strained relationships within the fictional family. For instance, when it comes to the daughter's career choice or her choice of friends.
Another way to generate tension is by introducing secrets. What if the mother has a past secret that could affect the relationship between the husband and the daughter? Or perhaps the daughter has a secret ambition that goes against the family's expectations. These secrets, when revealed or hinted at, can create a lot of tension in the story. It can make the characters question their relationships and loyalties, adding depth and drama to the fictional family dynamic.
When writing about these family relationships in fiction, it's important to give each character their own voice. The husband could be portrayed as having a calm and steady influence. The mother may be more emotional and intuitive. The daughter can bring a sense of newness and change. By having them interact in various situations, like family dinners or during a crisis, the story can unfold in an interesting way. For example, a family crisis might make the husband show his leadership, the mother her resilience, and the daughter her ability to adapt quickly.
You can create tension by setting up deadlines or time limits for the characters. Like, they have to complete a task before a certain time or something bad will happen.
One way to create tension is through character conflicts. When characters have opposing goals or motivations, it keeps readers on the edge of their seats wondering how it'll play out. Also, creating uncertainty about the outcome of events can heighten the tension.
To create tension in a horror story, start with a slow build-up of suspense. Use sound effects and descriptions of the environment to set the mood. And make the readers care about the characters so they worry about what might happen to them.
One step is to introduce a conflict early on. For example, if it's a mystery story, present the strange disappearance right at the start. Another step is to build up the stakes. Let the readers know that if the protagonist fails, something really bad will happen, like the destruction of a whole town. Also, create suspenseful scenes. Slow down the pace when the character is about to face a big challenge, like when they're about to open the door to a potentially dangerous place.
The author often does it by setting up tight deadlines or impossible challenges for the characters.
Well, one way is to introduce unexpected obstacles or complications for the main character. Another is to keep the reader guessing about what's going to happen next. Also, creating conflicts between characters can add a lot of tension.
The use of long, drawn - out conversations in the narrative discourse also builds tension. The characters often engage in dialogues that seem to be leading nowhere, but there's always an underlying sense of danger or unease. Their exchanges can be filled with double - meanings and hidden agendas, like the conversations between Vincent and Jules. This makes the viewers feel on edge as they try to decipher the true intentions behind the words.
Create conflicts among the characters. Have them face difficult choices and high stakes. Also, introduce time pressure or limited resources to increase the tension.
The first paragraphs often introduce a problem or a conflict that immediately grabs the reader's attention and builds tension.