1. The Elements of Suspense

2. All Stories Contain Certain Elements Plot Plot Character Character Setting Setting Dialogue Dialogue Narrative Narrative

3. Suspense Anxiety or apprehension resulting from an uncertain, undecided, or mysterious situation Dictionary.com

4. Suspense is also… The anxious curiosity the reader feels about what will happen next in a story. The anxious curiosity the reader feels about what will happen next in a story. Any kind of writing or work that has a plot evokes some degree of suspense. Any kind of writing or work that has a plot evokes some degree of suspense.

5. In suspense there must be an unknown; a suspicion, a mystery, a danger we expect In suspense there must be an unknown; a suspicion, a mystery, a danger we expect

6. Scary Story Characteristics Where: old house, empty building, amusement park, castle Where: old house, empty building, amusement park, castle When: stormy night, midnight, summer, in the future When: stormy night, midnight, summer, in the future Characters: ghosts, an old man, monsters, skeletons Characters: ghosts, an old man, monsters, skeletons Plot: adventures, mysterious events, problems, getting lost Plot: adventures, mysterious events, problems, getting lost

7. Scary Story Characteristics…. Descriptive writing: creaky stairs, terrifying, loud bang, eerie sounds, spooky, trembling, dark-Write about sounds, smells, tastes, what things actually feel like. The sticky, stringy feeling of a spider web. Descriptive writing: creaky stairs, terrifying, loud bang, eerie sounds, spooky, trembling, dark-Write about sounds, smells, tastes, what things actually feel like. The sticky, stringy feeling of a spider web. Suspense: surprise ending, you don’t know what will happen next-draw out the scene and create obstacles to create suspense. Suspense: surprise ending, you don’t know what will happen next-draw out the scene and create obstacles to create suspense.

8. Suspense (mystery, intrigue, tension) is built with: Facts Facts Slow down the scene. Slow down the scene. Atmosphere Atmosphere Action Action

9. Ways to deepen suspense… Dreams foreshadowing what may happen foreshadowing what may happen showing the character’s deepest fears, his haunting past showing the character’s deepest fears, his haunting past

10. Ways to deepen suspense … Clues journals / diaries / letters / notes / pictures, etc. journals / diaries / letters / notes / pictures, etc. physical evidence that can be used to determine time of death, how, and where physical evidence that can be used to determine time of death, how, and where

11. Ways to deepen suspense… The Weather the season can match or contrast the characters’ emotional state the season can match or contrast the characters’ emotional state Slow down the scene Slow down the scene

12. Ways to deepen suspense… The Senses the smell of blood, the stench of an alley the smell of blood, the stench of an alley the taste of fear the taste of fear reaction to finding a dead body reaction to finding a dead body the feel of blood-soaked clothing the feel of blood-soaked clothing

13. Ways to deepen suspense… The Villain his/her motivations or intentions his/her motivations or intentions simple greed, jealousy, money simple greed, jealousy, money revenge revenge

14. Ways to deepen suspense… Other characters shift suspicion onto them shift suspicion onto them Create an obstacle: Have something or someone get in the way. Have something or someone get in the way.

15. Prewriting Example: Your character thought he heard someone in the house…… Your character thought he heard someone in the house…… What was the disturbing sound? What was the disturbing sound? What was the character thinking? What was the character thinking? What did the character smell that was out of the ordinary? What did the character smell that was out of the ordinary? Have the character notice something different in the house, out of the ordinary Have the character notice something different in the house, out of the ordinary

16. Cont…. Raise another question Raise another question What does the character really want to do now? Perhaps he is afraid to do it… What does the character really want to do now? Perhaps he is afraid to do it… Have the character do something-take action. Have the character do something-take action. Put an obstacle in his path; make him retreat for a breath. Put an obstacle in his path; make him retreat for a breath.

17. Cont…. Let the character move closer to the disturbing sound/scent/sight. Slow down the scene!!! Let the character move closer to the disturbing sound/scent/sight. Slow down the scene!!! Let the character discover what is really going on. Perhaps it’s nothing to sweat about, or maybe it is……. Let the character discover what is really going on. Perhaps it’s nothing to sweat about, or maybe it is……. Now, you are ready to write your suspenseful story! Try to avoid am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been Now, you are ready to write your suspenseful story! Try to avoid am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been

18. There are two writer / directors who are considered masters of suspense… Stephen King & Alfred Hitchcock

19. Stephen King Bestselling author of horror short stories and novels. Bestselling author of horror short stories and novels. Successful screenplay writer. Successful screenplay writer. Master of suspense stories. Master of suspense stories.

20. Influences as a Writer Comic books Comic books Horror movies Horror movies Science fiction Science fiction Classic writers: Edgar Allen Poe, Thomas Hardy, Shirley Jackson, Agatha Christie, JRR Tolkien Classic writers: Edgar Allen Poe, Thomas Hardy, Shirley Jackson, Agatha Christie, JRR Tolkien

21. Reasons to study Stephen King He is a good storyteller. He is a good storyteller. He uses terror, horror, and “gross” techniques to captivate his readers. He uses terror, horror, and “gross” techniques to captivate his readers. He cleverly creates the unexpected. He cleverly creates the unexpected. He provides insights into the dark side of humanity. He provides insights into the dark side of humanity. He writes about “taboo subjects”: death, destruction, and the unknown. He writes about “taboo subjects”: death, destruction, and the unknown. His characters often harbor evil and/or vengeful feelings that compel their actions. His characters often harbor evil and/or vengeful feelings that compel their actions.

22. King’s views on Horror & Evil “Horror fiction was conservative and that was its appeal to teenagers – the two things go together because teenagers are the most conservative people in American society. You know, small children take it as a matter of course that things will change every day and grown-ups understand that things change sooner or later…it is only kids in high school who are convinced they’re never going to change.”

23. King’s views on Horror & Evil con’t “The horror genre exists on three basic levels, separate but independent, and each one is a little bit cruder than the one before. There’s terror on top, the finest emotion any writer can induce; then horror; and on the very lowest of all, the gag instinct of revulsion. Naturally, I’ll try to terrify you first, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll try to horrify you and if I can’t make it there, I’ll try to gross you out.”

24. Other Quotes by King “Horror is one of the ways we walk our imagination. It’s a way to relieve bad feelings rather than something that causes them.” “People ask me what scares me. Everything scares me. Bugs are bad…airplanes…the dark…elevators…Friday the 13 th …bad luck in general…”

25. Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock August 13, 1899-April 29, 1980 Son of greengrocers William and Emma Son of greengrocers William and Emma Devout Catholic Devout Catholic Educated at Jesuit’s St. Ignatius College Educated at Jesuit’s St. Ignatius College Left school at 16 to study engineering and navigation at University of London Left school at 16 to study engineering and navigation at University of London

26. A foot in the door… Took at job as title designer for silent films at Paramount Pictures in London Took at job as title designer for silent films at Paramount Pictures in London Quickly moved up to assistant director Quickly moved up to assistant director Began work on first film, “No. 13”, at age 22 (1922) Began work on first film, “No. 13”, at age 22 (1922)

27. Then comes marriage… Met and married Alma Reville in December 1926 Met and married Alma Reville in December 1926 Alma was an assistant director and screenwriter who worked on many of Hitchcock’s films Alma was an assistant director and screenwriter who worked on many of Hitchcock’s films Had one daughter, Patricia Had one daughter, Patricia

28. Coming to America… After the onset of WWII, Hitchcock emigrated to America After the onset of WWII, Hitchcock emigrated to America Became a U.S. citizen in 1955 Became a U.S. citizen in 1955 Quickly launched the television show “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” upon his arrival Quickly launched the television show “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” upon his arrival

29. Themes Concerning People Terror inflicted upon the often unknowing and innocent victim Terror inflicted upon the often unknowing and innocent victim Innocent people caught up in events they cannot control Innocent people caught up in events they cannot control Transference of guilt: innocent character’s failings are transferred to another character and magnified Transference of guilt: innocent character’s failings are transferred to another character and magnified Explored the compatibility of men and women (especially a mother figure) Explored the compatibility of men and women (especially a mother figure) The wrong man The wrong man

30. Themes Concerning the Mind Guilt (real or the appearance of it) Guilt (real or the appearance of it) Redemption Redemption Early films reflected the political climate of Europe during the war Early films reflected the political climate of Europe during the war Preferred to use suspense rather than surprise Preferred to use suspense rather than surprise

31. Sound Manipulated sound effects (ie. beeping of car horns = busy urban street) Manipulated sound effects (ie. beeping of car horns = busy urban street) Music was used to psychologically enhance the audience’s experience Music was used to psychologically enhance the audience’s experience Hitchcock often made cameo appearances in the films carrying a musical instrument Hitchcock often made cameo appearances in the films carrying a musical instrument

32. Camera Angles Never shot from an angle that was physically impossible from human perspective Never shot from an angle that was physically impossible from human perspective “Hitchcock zoom” (ie. “Vertigo”) “Hitchcock zoom” (ie. “Vertigo”) Used techniques to make audience believe films were shot in a single take Used techniques to make audience believe films were shot in a single take

33. And the award goes to… Film “Rebecca” (1940) won Oscar for Best Picture while four others were nominated Film “Rebecca” (1940) won Oscar for Best Picture while four others were nominated Hitchcock never won an Oscar for Best Director Hitchcock never won an Oscar for Best Director Did receive the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award at 1967 Oscars Did receive the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award at 1967 Oscars Awarded the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award (1979) Awarded the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award (1979) Named a Knight Commander of the British Empire (1980) Named a Knight Commander of the British Empire (1980)

34. A Decade To Remember 1950-1960 “Rear Window” “Rear Window” “Vertigo” “Vertigo” “North by Northwest” “North by Northwest” “Psycho” “Psycho”

35. “Rear Window” Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont Thelma Ritter as Stella Dick Simmons Thelma Ritter as Stella Dick Simmons James Stewart as Jeff (L.B. Jeffries) James Stewart as Jeff (L.B. Jeffries) Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald

36. Trivia At age 5, Hitchcock’s father had him taken to the local jail after Hitchcock was caught in some mischief-making At age 5, Hitchcock’s father had him taken to the local jail after Hitchcock was caught in some mischief-making He never sat with the audience as they viewed a film He never sat with the audience as they viewed a film He used the number 13 throughout his films in some form He used the number 13 throughout his films in some form