Understanding Tension

What exactly is tension? If conflict represents the problem, then tension embodies our (and the characters’) emotional reaction to it. Imagine it as conflict being the cause and tension is the effect (cause and effect).

Tension: Returning home late one evening, she discovers scattered underwear strewn across the floor.

Conflict: She confronts her boyfriend, accusing him of infidelity.

Essentially, tension tantalizes the reader with the prospect of change, engaging them in the narrative’s unfolding drama.

There’s two type of tension – negative and positive.

Negative
It’s associated with negative emotions—sadness, anger, anxiety—a profound sense of unease. Picture being pursued by a monster in a shadowy forest or encountering an eerie envelope on the table. Opening an unknown door which might leads to death/Hell.

Positive
It leans toward positive emotions and feelings—happiness, cheerfulness—anticipating something wonderful: a kiss, joyful news (like a pregnancy announcement), or a lover waiting behind the door.

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Using the previous example,

Negative Tension: Returning home late one evening, she discovers scattered underwear strewn across the floor, sparking suspicions of infidelity.

Leads to Conflict: Confronting her boyfriend, she accuses him of cheating, escalating the tension.

Positive Tension: However, he surprises her by explaining that the underwear (he wanted to make it special) and flowers are actually for her, dispelling her doubts and transforming the tension into a moment of warmth and understanding.

Leads to Resolution: She accepts his proposal.

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Depending on how you write, it can be:

Conflict > Tension > Resolution

Tension > Conflict > Tension > Resolution

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Hope that this article is easy to understand. Happy Writing!

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