What is an essential component of building suspense in a story?

• A. Consistent character actions
• B. Sudden plot resolutions
• C. Withholding information from the reader
• D. A predictable narrative structure

Answer: (C)

Withholding information from the reader is a fundamental technique for creating suspense in storytelling. When an author strategically limits the information available to both the characters and the audience, it fosters an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension. Readers become eager to uncover the hidden truths and anticipate how events will unfold, which drives their engagement with the narrative.

This technique can create questions in the readers' minds—such as the motives behind a character's actions or the potential outcomes of a conflict—that maintain interest and encourage them to continue reading to find answers. By not revealing all pertinent details at once, the author can manipulate pacing and build anticipation, effectively heightening the suspense throughout the story.

Other elements, such as consistent character actions or sudden plot resolutions, may contribute to storytelling but do not inherently create suspense in the same way. A predictable narrative structure, on the other hand, typically reduces suspense by making outcomes foreseeable, which diminishes the tension and intrigue vital to sustaining reader interest.