Creating Suspense: Be Vague

Often, we feel more comfortable if our characters and settings are

properly explained and introduced to the readers. However, there are
times when it can create a sense of curiosity and anticipation if we
deliberately leave out certain important details.

“Do you think it’s a 2 or a 7?” Elephant whispered.

“I say it’s fifty-fifty, but I sure hope you don’t mess up!” I muttered,
focused on the complicated looking device fixed on the wall.

Here, the reader is left to wonder: what are the characters up to? Why
does one of them have such a weird name? This keeps the reader
interested to know more.

The sky was of an ominous dark grey. It was a featureless blank slate.
No sun, no stars, no moon. I smell the nauseating smell of charred
timber and burnt meat. Oh gosh…what have I done?

Here, the author does not reveal directly the setting of the story. But
through the various mysterious hints that the author gives, we can
begin to build an image of the place.

I sat in the living room, wild thoughts running through my head. I

couldn’t sleep. At 12, I heard the rumble of an engine. I peered out of
the window. Not him. At 2, I thought I heard his footsteps. But it was
just the cat roaming about. By 4, I only had one thought: is he ever
coming back?

Here, the use of the pronoun ‘he’ keeps the identity of the character
hidden. This leaves the reader wanting to know more about his
background.