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How do you create tension?

Chuck Palahniuk
Aug 16, 2022
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This comes from Tom Vandel:

Just saw "Once Upon a Time in the West" tonight (for about the 5th time). Truly the best western of all time in my view. Two great moments of tension - a flock of birds suddenly rising from the bushes as if frightened off.... and the sound of hundreds of crickets suddenly stopping all at once - someone is coming!

The frightened animal is a classic, whether it’s dogs growling at ghosts, or herd animals fleeing an impending natural disaster.

So, Tom, you’re the winner of our How Do You Create Tension contest from last week. Please email Dennis your physical mailing address, and I’ll shoot a prize your way. Let me know if a dog or cat is in the picture.

And congratulations!

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Brandan
Writes Brandan’s ScumStack
Aug 16, 2022

I really like the opening scene from ‘Falling Down’. Builds tension through overstimulation and by the end of it you feel the need to take a breath, despite the scene just being a guy sitting in his car. https://youtu.be/piPzExBdfIg

Congrats to the winner! I’m sure Chuck will teach you a valuable lesson in tension when you open the package. (I’m not saying it’ll be the same, but for me, it was a matter of cutting the green wire).

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Katy Harrison
Writes Private Thoughts In Public Plac…
Aug 16, 2022

Congratulations, Tom. Great examples!/

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