by Janet Blaylock

Created on: June 01, 2010   Last Updated: January 23, 2011

When you write your novel or short story, you want to develop the dialogue so that readers can visualize how the protagonist and other characters experience conflict, tension, and suspense. These elements will create more realistic characters.

For example, the following scene has different mood changes, and the tension and suspense increase because the characters have experienced conflict.

They looked around to see if they could find some clue that would open the area in the wall. Just as Penny took a step near the place in the wall, it opened. "I found it!" Penny exclaimed, as she knelt down to look inside.

The area was small and dark. Penny had a difficult time seeing inside, but when she took a flashlight and shined it in the small opening, she saw the dusty suitcase and pulled it out.

"Wow! You did find it!" the girls exclaimed.

Penny walked into the kitchen and set it on the kitchen table. Abby, Christy, and Megan gathered around the table with their backs to the door. Christy got an old dust cloth to dust it off. After Christy dusted off the suitcase, Penny opened it, and they saw the money.

"I can't believe we found it," Megan said.

"I can't either," Abby replied.

Penny took out the money and counted it. "This is the exact amount that is missing from the bank, so I'll have to contact them and tell them I found the money," Penny said.

"I wonder what we'll find next," Christy remarked.

"You're about find the answer to that question," someone from behind them said, in a firm voice. "Don't turn around, or I won't hesitate to use my gun."

The girls stood stiff and couldn't move because they feared for their lives.

As you read this section, you can sense the mood change within the characters. They were happy because they located the dusty suitcase that they thought contained the money the robbers took from the bank. When they opened the suitcase, they found the money and were ecstatic.

However, the tension increases at the end of the section when they hear someone talk to them in a firm voice. Readers don't know what will happen next because they don't know who is behind the main characters. Suspense is created because of the situation with the girls and the suspect who is behind them.

After reading the section, readers would want to continue reading so they could find out who was behind the characters and what was going to happen.

This is one way that you can use tension, suspense, and conflict.

The following example is written in first person

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>