Tension: The Key Ingredient For A Novel Readers Can’t Put Down Christian Publishing Show podcast

Content provided by Thomas Umstattd Jr.. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Thomas Umstattd Jr. or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

Christian Publishing Show »
Tension: The Key Ingredient for a Novel Readers Can’t Put Down

15d ago 58:15

MP3•Episode home

Why do some books keep readers up all night while others fall flat?

If you've ever wondered whether your novel is gripping enough, you're not alone. One of the biggest challenges writers face is keeping readers hooked to the end.

In this week’s episode, we dive deep into what truly drives great storytelling. Whether you're writing legal thrillers, Amish fiction, or epic fantasy, tension is your secret weapon, and knowing how to dial it up or down can make or break your story.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why reading current bestsellers (without judgment!) is key to leveling up your writing
How different genres handle tension differently
What every author needs to understand about their reader’s motive for reading

Listen in or read the blog version to discover the many types of tension and how to weave it into your novel to keep readers reading to the end.

Support the show

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. How do you tune tension for your genre? (00:01:47)

3. Won't reading other books make my writing derivative? (00:03:42)

4. What tools create effective tension in storytelling? (00:06:46)

5. What's the secret to writing mystery as a component of tension? (00:13:18)

6. How do story questions relate to tension? (00:18:39)

7. How do you avoid forcing a message into the story? (00:24:30)

8. How is peril related to tension? (00:25:33)

9. How do you incorporate Christian themes? (00:27:36)

10. Can personality tools help with character development? (00:30:59)

11. How do you know when your characters are truly different? (00:35:14)

12. How do you choose the right character perspective? (00:37:49)

13. What are some ways to increase or decrease tension? (00:39:57)

14. How do you create tension without danger? (00:46:27)

15. Why should authors read bestsellers in their genre? (00:52:32)

223 episodes

#Books #Religion #Christianity #Arts #Thomas Umstattd Jr #Christian Publishing