Suspense

1
Suspense

• By Carla Smith

2
Magic of Three

• Uses three Red Flag words.
• Uses three senses (hear, smell, taste, feel and
  see) that are used once each.
• Third hint leads to the revelation.

3
Red Flag Words

• Suddenly A moment later
• The next thing I knew Just then
• In the blink of an eye Instantly
• All of a sudden Without warning
• To my surprise

4
Template for Magic of Three

• Red flag word__________, 1st
• sense_________. No discovery___________.
• Reaction_________________.
• Red flag word__________, 2nd sense_______
• _________. No discovery___________.
• Reaction_________________.
• Red flag work___________, 3rd sense_______.
• Revelation/Discovery_____________________.

5
Example

• Creak! A tree slowly bent over. Sara looked
• up in enough time to dodge the falling tree. Up
• ahead she noticed birds flying over. Squirrels
• were scurrying upon the fallen leaves in the
• forest.
• Suddenly, Sara heard footsteps approaching
• her. She spied through a bush to discover
• nothing. All of a sudden, the birds stopped
• flying and the squirrels came to a stop. Again,
• Sara went to see what was there. She didnt
• find anything. A moment later, Sara took a
• deep breath and smelled a clammy odor. Sara
• stopped short. A strange old woman appeared
• Before her on the forest path.

6
Things to look for

• Notice that the example includes an entertaining
  beginning, elaborative detail and suspense.
• The example also includes two separate
  paragraphs. The first includes a beginning and
  detail and the second is suspense only.
• Each paragraph is indented.
• Stay away from conversation!!!