suspense
an uneasy feeling that a reader gets when they don't know what is going to happen next. A writer creates suspense through a controlled release of information to readers that raises key questions and makes readers eager, but terrified, to find out what happens.
foreshadowing
clues about what will happen next
smoke and mirrors
creating a complex or mysterious situation
tension
feelings of stress or certainty
flashback
the recall of a previous experienced memory
withheld information
key details that are hidden from the audience
plot twist
a sudden unexpected change in the story
pacing
how fast/slow the story develops
cliffhanger
an ending with no clear resolution
impending danger
a sense of approaching threat/risk
red herring
a purposefully placed clue to trick audiences
dramatic irony
when the audience knows more than the character. It creates tension and suspense.
parallel plotlines
story structures where the writer incorporates two or more separate stories
setting /atmosphere
used by the author to create mood