Creating Suspense

[donutsweeper]

Another writing/reading question for people.

What are your opinions on creation suspense/tension by using exposition to show something outside of what the characters are aware of? For example:

Neither of them noticed the man on hill, watching their every move.

In visual media this is quite powerful, usually done by shifting the camera behind a bush and watching the heroes for a minute through that perspective (possibly with the slightest hint of someone or something pushing some of the branches out of the way.)

Is it a jarring effect in prose? Does it depend on the overall POV of the story?

Comments

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Just make sure that whatever his intuition tells him is something that's in the realm of possibility. It has to be something within range of his five senses or be something he can put together from his experience and knowledge.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'll have to play around with it to make it work. *nods* writing can be complicated to try to do properly, but better that than just going with the easy route, right?

[tejas.livejournal.com]

YES! And, the best part is that what's hard to do today gets easier every time you approach it. ;-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

here's hoping that's the case! :)

Although, sometimes I find it makes reading harder because I'm more critical with the stories I read. Now, when I'm reading something that overuses epithets (for example) it really annoys me.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's a good sign. It means you're reading as a writer. It's an unavoidable condition once you get to a certain point. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

It certainly has sped up my use of the back button

[tejas.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! Yep. I know the feeling.