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The Subtle Art of Suspense

  • 05 Dec 2020
  • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Zoom

Registration is closed


In this workshop, we'll cover:

  • Setting the scene: suspenseful scenes and how use them;
  • How cliffhangers keep us hooked;
  • Building suspense through characters: how classic villains use our darkest fears, such as being eaten, or worse;
  • Building suspense in subtle ways: adding suspense into any genre with subtle conflict;
  • Building suspense through dialogue: how clipped dialogue can speed up the action and build suspense; 
  • Classic elements of suspense: –the hallway–the smells–the terror–why horror works;
  • What’s behind the door: making the big reveal just as exciting as that trip down the hall;
  • What’s in the box? Writing the ending to the opening story.



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The South Carolina Writers Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary organization, receives support from the South Carolina Arts Commission and our members, furthering our mission to offer a supportive environment for people to become better writers. SCWA is grateful for this support. DONATE

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