Christian Publishing Show
Christian Publishing Show
Thomas Umstattd Jr.
Tension: The Key Ingredient for a Novel Readers Can’t Put Down
58 minutes Posted Jun 10, 2025 at 7:00 am.
Introduction
How do you tune tension for your genre?
Won't reading other books make my writing derivative?
What tools create effective tension in storytelling?
What's the secret to writing mystery as a component of tension?
How do story questions relate to tension?
How do you avoid forcing a message into the story?
How is peril related to tension?
How do you incorporate Christian themes?
Can personality tools help with character development?
How do you know when your characters are truly different?
How do you choose the right character perspective?
What are some ways to increase or decrease tension?
How do you create tension without danger?
Why should authors read bestsellers in their genre?
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Show notes
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,...