These are notes I took from a wonderful writing symposium called Life, the Universe, and Everything. We have a lot of talented people in Utah and visitors with a great deal of knowledge. Any Misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

Q: what techniques to build tension in a scene:
– The rule for every chapter there will be some conflict between characters for example, even if friends and maybe two will not get along. Make sure the characters are always squabbling. Maybe argue what to eat at the tavern or fighting about the key point of the plot.
– The tension comes from the characters’ motivation and stakes. Tension is built naturally but putting things in the way to accomplish their goals.
– Use the ticking time bomb. If characters don’t meet the deadline then something bad happens. The closer you get to the deadline the high the stakes get.
– Book: illuminate shows use of a deadline. People are dying from disease and the headcount increases throughout the book.

Q: is there such a thing as too much tension?
– In the novel, intensity, a person felt it was too intense. The tension never lets up. It was too much for the reader.
– Light hum can lighten the tension. The reader gets tired without a break.
– Melva> go through pursued and find pages of exposition and cut.
– After a big event and have a section of downtime. So characters can reflect ton how events relate to them.
– Movies spend half an hour of CGI special effects and can get bored after 3 min.

How to ease the tension:
– Planning out a book, one usually has a trajectory in the book. Then to plan in moments of a sequel to the scene.
– Humor is a good way to break the tension. The TV show died well on this with wisecracks as the world is ending. Jokes are a natural defense system to not feel overwhelmed.
– A romantic subplot can provide a different tone to balance out the story.
– Write epic fantasy > some don’t like those books because the book describes everything about the cathedral they enter. Some will hide a clue to the ending that is hidden in the description.
– Scene change: move to a different point of view character that has a different kind of tension on the story.
– Robert Jordon will build up a scene and stop the chapter right in the middle of the climax. And moves story to somewhere else and cuts off the scene.
Q: the difference between plot and tension? The plot is what is happening to the characters and tension is how the characters feel about it.
– If your character does not feel about the world> the reader will not be invested. They need to have personal consequences.
– The tension gets high by the more obstacles that get in the way for them to accomplish their object.

Q: How does increasing tension between genres horror, mystery, and romance?
– Different gereras use different tensions. Tension about mortal peril in SF/F and mystery. The main tension in a romance will the characters get together. Tension can be build as a couple sit at a table and are completely unaware of a time bomb that might destroy the building and they are oblivious about it.
– You can use language to create tension. In horror language to describe surroundings. In romance might be trying to understand what the opposite person is thinking.
– In a deep point of view story: and in 3rd person for suspense when you only see one point of view. If you have multiple points of views another character sees it.
– Set up the scene in previous chapters of showing a bomb under the table.
– There might be hints showing a threat and the character does not understand.

Q: What are the mistakes that new authors make on tension?
– False suspense is when the author is hiding info that is known by the main character. This is a cheap way to withhold info from the reader.
– In a heist book, the criminals know how to pull off a heist. If that part plan is going to work. If the plan is not going to work show it being plotted out and then it goes array.
– One mistake new authors will try to use world-building to create tension in the book.
– The author will leave out important details the reader needs to know. Is it a child, grandparent or what kind of environment they are in. who is on the scene and what is happening.
– One story has a kid being picked on and we don’t know until the end of the chapter that they are an elf.
– Authors build something up and then there is no payoff. Knock on the door and next scene it’s my little sister.
– Don’t mistake actions for tension.
– Don’t start a scene with a fight scene because the reader is not emotionally invested in the characters yet.
– An action scene can work if it is just to reveal the character but someone is not in threat. It can be a means to reveal the character.
– Can do an action scene but present some traits that a reader can relate to. Or a situation of where the reader could think, this could be my sister.
– If you have a group of bet readers way something didn’t’ work then review the scene.

Q: how to transfer from the end of one book to the next.
– Some end a book in a cliff hanger.
– An arch should have a smaller arc that is different or aligns with the master series arch.
– Tie each novel up in the end.
– When you write books your main objective is to entertain people.
– How to stop tension from having a fallout

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