Whether you're writing a thriller or a romance, suspense keeps readers turning pages. How do you create it? By making readers care about outcomes and by making outcomes uncertain.
One technique is to give characters clear goals and then put obstacles in their way. Each obstacle raises the stakes.
Pacing Matters
Fast pacing creates excitement. Slow pacing builds tension. Vary your pacing to control reader emotions. Long sentences slow things down. Short sentences speed them up.
End chapters on cliffhangers. Leave important questions unanswered. Make readers NEED to know what happens next.