Suspense and Episodic Writing (Holly Schindler)

This theme comes at an interesting time for me--now that I've wrapped my Christmas book for the year, it's time to plot / outline a new project. Right now, I'm plotting out the revision of a mystery novel (one that I've decided should be a suspense novel rather than a cozy) as well as the fiction podcast I've had in mind for ages. 

 

The podcast is the first time I've attempted truly episodic writing. Aiming for twenty-minute episodes, which equals about ten pages of writing. Making sure the readers (ahem, listeners) are emotionally invested in the characters (caring = amplification of suspense), making sure the episodes end on cliffhangers, making sure everyone can understand everything that's happening in the current scene but that there is also a question that needs answering...

Those are all elements that bring me back to the fiction podcasts I've personally enjoyed the most. And they're classic elements of suspense. 

Maybe, in essence, all storytelling relies on suspense. Even literary fiction. Or romance (how will they get together?) or horror (how will the MC get out of this mess?). And maybe, at its core, all writing is actually episodic. Maybe thinking in terms of episodes ensures that you move straight from one interesting scene to the next, without putting unnecessary chapters in-between. 

It always amazes me how trying out new formats or genres creates ah-ha! moments for your work as a whole...

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Holly Schindler is the author of the award-winning YA A Blue So Dark