Find the Tension
Tension in movies and writing is the feeling of uncertainty, anticipation, and anxiety that drives a story forward. It is the mental or emotional strain created when a character wants something desperately, but obstacles prevent them from achieving it.
At its core, tension forces the audience or reader to ask: "What will happen next?" or "Will they make it?"
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Non-fiction
In non-fiction, tension is the "magical middle ground" of uncertainty and anticipation that keeps readers engaged, compelling them to continue reading to resolve unanswered questions. It arises when the reader senses that something is wrong, or when a character faces obstacles to their goals, creating a sense of unease.
Surface vs Reality
Observation = the story people tell
Contradiction = the story that's actually happening
- Human behaviour
- Quiet contradiction
- Social pattern
- Thinking about thinking
- Everyday absurdity
- Something people say that does not quite add up
- Advice that sounds right but feels wrong
Tension Scripter - Video