1/ Writing tip from real brain science. Your brain releases wild amounts of dopamine during the anticipation of something, more than when the actual something occurs. That's why the build-up to Christmas and the unwrapping of gifts is often more satisfying than the actual gifts.
2/ How's that translate to fiction? Hitchcock was on to this long ago: “There is no terror in the bang,” he said, “only in the anticipation of it.” So, don't surprise the reader with the bomb exploding. You'll get some shock value, but you'll lose the dopamine effect.
3/ Let your reader/audience SEE the bomb under the table before it explodes. Let the dopamine run wild. Make them terrified to turn the page. Make them put your book down! They'll love you for it.
#writingtip #writingcommunity
#writingtip #writingcommunity
4/ And just in case you need some of the brain science. (This isn't exactly new stuff, but too few people look at it.)
thecolemaninstitute.com/tci-blog/72-do…
thecolemaninstitute.com/tci-blog/72-do…
Hi @threadreaderapp can you please unroll?
