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Writing a suspense story at KS2
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Writing a Suspense Story
Suspense is a technique that a
writer uses to make the reader feel
- scared
- anxious
- excited
- desperate to know what happens next!
It's fun to feel scared when you know that
it's all a story ...
How to create suspense
1. Use short sentences to build up the tension
2. Use ellipsis (…) to create the "What happens next?" moment!
3. Use simile and metaphor to describe
His heart pounded. His hands shook. Sweat poured.
The floorboards groaned like a menacing beast. His heart pounded. His hands shook. Sweat poured. He could feel the eyes watching him from dark corners ...
Take a moment to consider this scene. Create a suspenseful paragraph with your table group using some of the techniques we have talked about so far.
- short sentences
- ellipsis
- simile and metaphor
4. Is there something hidden in the darkness? Can you keep your reader guessing about what is there ...
5. Use powerful verbs like crept, whispered, raced ...
What hidden sounds can the crew of the space rocket hear?
How is the creature moving?
Listen to writer Malorie Blackman
talking about how she creates tension
in her writing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z9dc87h
Now try creating suspenseful sentences with the following tense sentence openers
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye ...
My heart pounding in my chest, I thought I could hear ...
As the vast door of the Alien craft opened, I could feel ...
You are going to listen to a piece of music.
Try to create a suspenseful tale in your mind using
everything you have learned.
- Short sentences to create tension. "Hearts pounded. Heads ached. Time ticked"
- Use ellipsis to create a page-turning "What happens next?"
- Similes and metaphors
- Dark shadows. What is lurking, hidden? What strange sound was that?
- Powerful verbs
- Use all your senses.
Music used in WMM video composed by K MacLeod at http://incompetech.com (Constancy Part 2)
Moving Image used in WMM video from www.dreamscene.org
What is Suspense?
Talk to your partner
Simile
like a menacing beast
Short sentences
What happens next? The ellipsis creates excitement. Eyes watched him from dark corners ...
photo credit Nasa / Goddard Space Flight Center / Reto Stöckli