Mystery versus Suspense. A writing Tip.

 Mystery versus suspense.

 Let’s differentiate the two in simple terms.

 Mystery concerns the past. There’s a body. Whodunit? This is a prime mystery example.

Suspense, on the other hand, concerns the future. What will happen? Who will be hurt?

 Your major character is about to lift a lid on a box.

 Is this mystery? Yes, if the box contains a clue.

Is this suspense? Yes, if the box has a poisonous snake ready to bite. But, and here’s the crucial point about suspense, the character must have an inkling a peril lurks.

How does that happen? Well, the writer could say the character faces death. But come on. That’s sophomoric, at best. There needs to be a build-up. The character’s boss may deal in poisonous snakes and this box returned from Egypt when the boss did. While the box may not say a poisonous snake is enclosed, perhaps the stamp of A.S.P. Co could be a foreshadowing? Maybe if the boss returned from the western USA, the character hears a rattle inside the box.

 The point for writers is: even if the character does not suspect to be hurt, the reader must be aware of potential adverse consequences for suspense to be created.

The reader must envision the possibilities. If the hero stands on the edge of a cliff, there’s no significant possibility he may fall, even die. If the hero stands there and a villain rushes towards him, the reader can assume the villain may push the hero. And, if that happens? The hero is in danger.

 As it has not yet happened, suspense can build. Add in a few other details, like the villain’s shout “you’ve breathed your last” or the hero’s foot slipping on a loose rock that cascades to the canyon floor below and there’s suspense.

 If you skip all that and a park ranger comes across a dead body on the floor of the canyon, well, we’re now dealing with mystery.

 Choose your approach. Yes, an unidentified villain can cause suspense by creating the death of a hapless individual and allow the story to migrate into a mystery.

This is a conscious choice. An author may choose. Yet, mystery and suspense live separate lives.

Visit Author Donan Berg at Award winning books .