Fictionary’s Story Elements Series | The Pencil’s Edge
📍 Personal Note
It’s been a little over two months since my last post on Fictionary’s Story Elements. On May 19th, a biking accident abruptly paused not just my writing schedule, but much of my daily rhythm. Recovery has been slow, deliberate, and—thankfully—complete enough now that I’m able to return to the work I love most. If you’ve been following this series, thank you for your patience. I’m glad to be back.
Let’s dive into the next essential story element: Tension.
🎯 What Is Scene Tension, and Why Does It Matter?
Tension is what keeps a reader holding their breath.
It’s not just a gun going off or a villain kicking in the door. More often, it’s what simmers beneath the surface—when a character we care about wants something desperately and it’s unclear whether they’ll get it.
Fictionary defines tension as the threat of something bad happening, not the bad thing itself (that’s conflict, a separate element). Without tension, even the most beautifully written scene can feel flat or forgettable.
🧠 Think of Tension As…
- An unanswered question: Will she get the job?
- An emotional gamble: Will he tell her how he feels?
- An internal ticking clock: Can she keep the secret before it slips?
- A looming consequence: What will happen if they fail this time?
Whether subtle or overt, tension is the thread that binds the reader to your story. Lose the thread, and the book becomes easy to put down. And as writers, we never want that.
🛠 How Fictionary Helps You Track It
When using Fictionary’s StoryCoach software, every scene is evaluated for Tension. As an editor or writer, you’ll:
- ✅ Mark a √ when the tension is strong.
- ❌ Enter “None” if it’s absent.
- ⚠️ Use “Weak” if it’s present but underdeveloped.
- 🧪 Use “Manufactured” if it feels forced or disconnected from the story.
- 📉 Use “Information” when too much is revealed and tension collapses.
💡 Want to spot weak scenes quickly? On the Story Map, select:
- Scene Name
- POV
- Tension
Seeing these side-by-side helps identify exactly where (and why) your story may need a sharper edge.
✍️ Advice for Writers: How to Create Natural, Effective Tension
Tension works because we care.
So before you can create tension, you must create empathy—through character goals, emotional stakes, and meaningful relationships.
From there, tension can arise in countless ways:
Subtle Tension
A father hides a diagnosis from his daughter—while she unknowingly plans a long trip away.
In-Your-Face Tension
A woman wakes up handcuffed to a bed—and hears footsteps on the stairs.
Both are valid. Both are effective—when earned.
If your readers already trust you to take them somewhere meaningful, you don’t need to shock them. But you do need to make them care what happens next.
⚖️ What Kills Tension?
- Over-explaining or giving away key information too soon
- Flat character goals or no clear desire
- Too many goals in one scene, muddying the tension
- Obstacles that feel easy or arbitrary
- No stakes—the outcome doesn’t matter
Ask yourself:
“What does this character want right now? What stands in the way? And do I care whether they succeed?”
If you can’t answer those questions… neither can your reader.
🧭 Your Next Step
Review your manuscript. One scene at a time.
- Are there at least three scenes where nothing’s at risk?
- Have you clearly established what the POV character wants?
- Could you hold back information to increase suspense?
Use the Scene Name + POV + Tension filter in your Story Map. It’s one of the fastest ways to spot scenes that need deeper tension—and it gives your editor (or self-editor!) a clear path to revise.
💡 Final Thought
Tension is the heartbeat of story. Not every beat has to be loud—but it must be steady.
Readers don’t just want answers—they want the uncertainty, the anticipation, the ache of not knowing.
So give them what they came for: a reason to keep reading.
The Pencil Driven Life 