Violently Tense (50)

There are bonus practical tools here. One bonus deals directly the challenge with writing violence. I absolutely love the way Maass broke down the exercise in The Fire in Fiction:

"Deconstruct this action into it's [3, 4, or 5] distinct pictures, the stills that freeze-frame the sequence."

See (pun intended) I'm a visual writer and learner. I love relating writing books with how directors make movies. This is the perfect method for me to grasp the whole approach to the concept.

With those images in mind, it's up to me to make lists of corresponding, obscure details, feelings and conflicting emotions for the point of view character.

It's character interviews – only tougher – and better!

Because whether you're working on a sex scene, a weather scene (hopefully your protagonists aren't contemplating the weather during a sex scene) or violence in one way or another, "…torn emotions cause us to care."

This, the emotional risk and impact, is the crux of creating tension according to Maass. Personally I'm inclined to believe him. He and his literary agency see a lot more fiction – good, fair, and poor – than I ever will.

I'm willing to rely on and learn from his vast experience.

You can get your own copy of The Fire in Fiction to discover Maass' super suggestions for sex scenes (you can jump to page 230, but you'd be better off working your way up to that one).

To your best creative writing!

~Regan