Writing Craft
Suspense

Great crime fiction is about more than nonstop action. In this session, authors discuss how to balance violence and high stakes with quieter moments of character development, atmosphere, and emotional tension to create richer and more compelling stories.

Suspense lives in the details of a scene. This panel explores how writers across genres build tension, control pacing, and reveal information at just the right moment to keep readers hooked from the first page to the last.

What makes a story feel impossible to put down? In this conversation, authors dig into the shared DNA of thrillers across every genre. They explore how suspense, tension, and pacing work together to keep readers hooked, showing how these techniques apply no matter the setting, subject, or style of story.

Bestselling author Michael Connelly interviews Michael Koryta in a lively conversation about storytelling, character, and the challenge of balancing suspense with emotional depth.

Misdirection keeps readers guessing while fair play keeps them satisfied. Saralyn Richard, Jill Orr, Mariah Fredericks, and Rich Zahradnik explore how to design red herrings that surprise without cheating the reader. This session focuses on balancing intrigue, logic, and payoff to create mysteries that feel clever and earned.

In this session, authors discuss the different techniques they use to create excitement and suspense in their novels, from pacing and stakes to character choices and unexpected twists. The conversation explores how writers across genres keep readers engaged and turning pages.

What separates suspense from surprise? In this session, suspense authors explore the essential ingredients of the genre, discussing how they build tension, raise the stakes, and keep readers turning pages from the opening chapter to the final twist.