Conflict creates suspense by making the reader wonder who will win. For instance, when the hero is facing a powerful demon in a horror story, we don't know if they will survive. This uncertainty builds suspense. If there's an internal conflict like a character trying to resist the urge to open a cursed box, we're on the edge of our seats waiting to see if they'll give in.
You can start by building up tension slowly. For example, introduce mysterious elements or strange noises that make the reader or viewer wonder what's coming next.
By withholding information. For example, if the framing story is about a character approaching the vault of horror, not revealing what's inside right away builds suspense.
Transformation in horror stories creates suspense mainly by introducing the unknown. When a character starts to transform, we don't know what the end result will be. This uncertainty makes the reader or viewer on edge. For example, if a person's eyes start to change color and their body trembles, we wonder what hideous form they will take. Also, it can disrupt the status quo. If a previously normal situation suddenly has a character transforming, it shatters the sense of safety and makes us anticipate more bad things to come.
In a revelation horror novel, suspense is often created by slowly uncovering the unknown. For example, the author might drop small hints about a lurking evil at the beginning. As the story progresses, more details are revealed bit by bit, like peeling off the layers of an onion. This keeps the reader on edge, constantly wondering what will be revealed next.
There are many ways to create conflict in novels. The following are some common methods: 1. Setting up the background and contradictions: At the beginning of the novel, set up a background story to describe the basic rules and order of the world. Then, on this basis, some contradictions and conflict points such as social injustice, the gap between the rich and the poor, political corruption, environmental pollution, etc. could be gradually revealed and resolved through the development of the plot and characters. 2. Set up conflicts between characters: Add some characters in the novel so that there are some contradictions and conflicts between them. These conflicts could be between individuals or between societies and countries. For example, there could be contradictions between the protagonist and the villain. This contradiction could be gradually revealed and resolved through the development of the plot and character. Creating conflicts through environmental descriptions: The environment of the novel can affect the emotions and behavior of the characters. Creating conflicts through environmental descriptions is also a common method. For example, in a novel, on a stormy night, the protagonist is trapped in a small town in a storm. In such an environment, he will feel fear, helplessness and despair, which will cause conflict. Creating conflict through the ups and downs of the plot: Creating conflict through ups and downs and twists in the plot of a novel is also a common method. For example, setting up some unexpected events in the novel that required the protagonist to make a decision in a very short period of time could make the reader feel nervous and excited. Creating conflict is an important part of a novel's creation. Different methods and techniques can make the novel more fascinating and enhance the reader's reading experience.
Foreshadowing works to create suspense as it primes the reader's mind for something significant. It plants seeds of doubt and excitement, making them keep turning the pages to see if what they suspect comes true. Sometimes, it's a single line or a small detail that has a big impact later on, heightening the tension.
The story structure creates suspense by introducing elements of mystery or uncertainty early on. It keeps the reader guessing about what will happen next, and maybe builds up tension gradually through plot twists and cliffhangers.
The author often uses cliffhangers at the end of chapters to keep us on the edge of our seats. Also, they introduce mysterious elements and don't reveal all the details at once.
The conflict could also arise from different goals and dreams among the characters. Each character might have their own vision for the future, and when these collide, it can create a lot of drama. For instance, one character wants to preserve an old building while another wants to demolish it to build something new. There's no villain in this scenario, but the conflicting desires lead to a story full of tension.
Use of foreshadowing is key. Drop little hints in the preview about something bad that might happen. For instance, a character might mention a local legend that seems to be coming to life.