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Suspense & Tension

How to build suspense and tension in a story: Hitchcock's bomb under the table, Chekhov's gun, Dan Brown's contract, clock and crucible, plot twists and open loops.

Suspense & Tension

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Story Twists

May 8, 2025

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7 min read

Story Twists

Surprising yet inevitable

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

+1

Secrets of Suspense

Jul 7, 2024

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10 min read

Secrets of Suspense

7 ways to keep readers reading

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

The 3 C's: Contract, Clock, Crucible

Sep 5, 2023

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7 min read

The 3 C's: Contract, Clock, Crucible

The most controversial man in literature gives away his story foundations

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

The Bomb Under the Table

Aug 20, 2023

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8 min read

The Bomb Under the Table

Alfred Hitchcock's secret to suspense

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

+1

Open Loops

Jun 24, 2023

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3 min read

Open Loops

The 2 levels of open loops (and how to use them in your story)

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

+1

Chekhov's Gun

May 13, 2023

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7 min read

Chekhov's Gun

If you mention something in your story, make it intentional

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh

Suspense & Tension

+1

Promises & Payoffs

Jan 21, 2023

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5 min read

Promises & Payoffs

A powerful lesson on framing from Lord of the Rings

Nathan Baugh
Nathan Baugh
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