Editor’s Picks— Top 10: How To Make Your Story Full of Suspense

Let’s have a look at our top 10 stories today

Do you worry whether you can take your reader to the end? You fear she’ll quit without reading the whole story. What can you do — as a writer — to push your reader forward?

Think of your story as a roller coaster ride. It starts somewhere and ends somewhere. But in between these two points, you have to create all the fun.

What do the readers want?

They want to have fun while they learn about new things. Books are full of knowledge — and wisdom — but sometimes they are boring. Wikipedia is chock-full of dry information.

Writers marinate information. They add spices and simmer it on slow heat. Until it is prepared and tastes better.

What if writers failed to come up with ways to popularize ideas? The scientists do not have time to make things simple. The layperson would not be able to appreciate what was happening in the world of knowledge.

For example, the farmers were baffled by what was happening to their cows. A journalist named the disease ‘mad cow disease,’ and then, everybody got it. Until then, it was called ‘Bovine spongiform encephalopathy,’ and since the farmers forgot this long name, they didn’t know what precautions to take.

The psychologists knew a lot about how our emotions affect us since the 1970s and 1980s. But the layperson did not get it until Daniel Goleman named it ‘emotional intelligence.’

Except for Stephen Hawking and Michio Kaku — no theoretical physicist can make sense to the majority.

What happens if you start your story with the most challenging concept? Your readers think your information is going to be too hard to read.

Do these things to make your nonfiction full of suspense:

1. Create a connection with your reader — on an emotional level. Tell them how something worries you. Or how your view can impact their everyday lives.
2. Ask your reader one or two questions. Let them think about the answers. If you can make your reader think, they’d love to know more about your point of view.
3. Don’t tell the reader everything at the start. First, grab their attention. Then reveal things slowly.
4. Define the basics of your topic. Tell them how your information is going to impact them.
5. Only then explain the details. If something is too technical, tell your reader to skip it.
6. If something is too obscure, give an example or two. Use a personal story or an account you read somewhere.
7. If your point seems too far-fetched, find a quotation. Or look for scientific research to back what you are saying.
8. If you disagree with a universally accepted idea, tell your reader why you have an unusual opinion.
9. If an opposite opinion exists, don’t forget to mention it. Tell your reader how they can know more about the opposing view.
10. Use a case study to explain your point.
11. Practical takeaways are what your readers want. If they find your steps intriguing while skimming your piece, they may decide to read it all.

If you are still reading, it means I did grab your attention. Now, I can sleep comfortably — dreaming how people love my twists and turns.

Here is a list of our top 10 stories today — by writers who know how to create twists and turns in their article:

10. Burn The Boats To Become Successful And Make $1000 Or More

Kiran Yasmin is a professional academic and content writer. She has spent nearly ten years in the writing industry and she can cover almost all types of topics.

She is an excellent writer. Her writing style is honest, direct, and engaging. Don’t miss any of her stories. She is an inspiration for all writers.

Are you a struggling writer? Do you need writing inspiration? Well, we all need help and guidance at some points in life. Like all other fields or industries, the writing industry is full of competitive people. Some of them work hard and get pennies, while others write a little but make $1,000 or more every month. More than luck, the writing process involves hard work, dedication, and honesty.

9. I’ve Fallen Into the Habit of Digging Through Comments on Articles Online: Mine and Others’

Boateng Sekyere is a valuer, photographer, and writer. He knows how to write more engaging stories.

He is an excellent writer. His writing style is easy to read, witty, and intriguing. Do check his other stories.

Comment counts on your articles are not the be-all and end-all of writing.

Sure, it feels good to have comments worming their way under your posts, but the number of comments on a post doesn’t set the bounds of quality writing.

8. How to Build Your Scores of Private Victories and Increase Your Self-Confidence

Joshua Idegbere is 27 years old. He is studying B.Sc Medicine and B.Sc Surgery, MBBS.

Psychologists have found out that self-confidence is linked to almost every element involved in a happy and fulfilling life.

Having a healthy sense of self-confidence helps you make choices and decisions that you will look back on and be glad you did.

7. I Self-Published A Poetry Collection And It Was The Hardest Thing I Have Ever Done Emotionally

Mr. Smith is an erotic romance writer, poet, and storyteller.

He is a fine writer. His writing style is elegant, honest, and appealing. Don’t miss this one.

Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them — Charles Simic

Publish your poems, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. People will love your work, they said. What didn’t they tell me? How gut wrenching it would be.

6. Chasing an Ambulance Is More Exciting Than Following a Taxi

Dayton Parks has been published in The Ascent, The Writing Cooperative, Illumination-curated, and Writers’ Blokke.

He is an excellent writer. He often makes it to the Top 10. His writing style is charming, full of suspense, and engaging. Do check his other work.

I admit it.

When I see lights and hear sirens, I want to know what’s happening. It’s not that I want to see someone injured or killed. But something out of the ordinary happened. What could it be? Was it a car accident? Was it a fire? Did someone have a medical emergency? Were the cops chasing a bank robber or a car thief? If I’m near a TV or radio, I’ll switch to the local news to see if anyone’s reporting on it. If I’m in my truck, I’ll follow the lights and sirens to see what happened.

5. What Happens When You Think of Life as a Grocery Store.

Ikram Al Mouaswas is a consultant by pay but writer by passion. She loves listening to podcasts, books, and people. She writes about the philosophy and psychology of life, happiness, and humans.

She is a good writer. Her writing style is honest, deep, and thought-provoking. Do check her other work.

Have you ever thought, the system we live in is inaptly designed?

The world has gotten this wrong?

Krishnamurti, a reputable Indian American philosopher, agrees with you;

It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

4. Does Anyone Really Care About Helping You?

Floyd Mori was born in Utah. He is a former College Teacher, Mayor, CA State Assemblyman, Consultant, and CEO for Nonprofits.

He is an excellent writer. His writing style is full of suspense, twists and turns, and informative. He is a prolific writer. But you won’t regret following him.

You may need help in this life

Life can be challenging and unsure. It would be easier to achieve success if other people would help you. They may or may not be willing to stick their necks out to be of help to you. Good friends and family members may be your best source of help.

3. Common Sense Is Pretty Uncommon

Geetika Sethi is a wonderful human being. She leaves a bit of sparkle everywhere she goes ✨Wife to 1, Mom to 3. Holistic Health Coach. Author of upcoming books. She is a top Writer in Poetry.

She is a wonderful writer as well. Her writing style is honest, pointed, and refreshingly different. She always has something nice to say. Do check her other work.

I guess by now you are wondering… “what the hell is she writing about?” Don’t worry, all I’m going to be talking about in this 1 minute read is sense.

That very Common Sense that’s very Uncommon nowadays.

2. How “Making an Effort” Becomes Meaningful Change

Michael Adelizzi is a copywriter by trade, and a Medium contributor by pleasure. He is motivated by our collective improvement.

He is a superb writer. His writing style is honest, emotional, and full of suspense. He appeals to your heart and mind. He is new to Medium and needs your love.

Kevin and his partner have been together for several years. Each performs a family role they do not feel forced to play by the other. That is, they treat each other and their roles within the family with equal dignity.

On Sundays, Kevin usually spends part of the day watching televised sports — a significantly enjoyable part of his week — while his partner entertains their two young children and prepares meals for the coming week.

1. What I’ve Learned From My Weekly Column For The Writing Cooperative

At number one, it is Walter Rhein. He is a small press writer with Perseid Press, Burning Bulb Publishing, and Harren Press — his words.

He is an accomplished writer. His writing style is easy to read, honest, and inspiring. Don’t forget to check his other work.

I’ve been working on Medium for a little over nine months now, and I continue to find it an engaging and exciting platform. My best month made me a little less than $1,000, and I typically do around 25 articles per pay period.

In December 2020, the editors of The Writing Cooperative approached me to do a weekly column. We brainstormed ideas for a while and finally settled on calling the column ‘The Reckless Writer.’ The name is a nod to my travel novel ‘Reckless Traveler.’

This post is part of the Top 10 Series — you can meet 500+ top writers with these links:

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Final Thoughts

If your story was selected in the Top 10, please share another story with a brief introduction and a short convincing review — in the comments. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

I am inviting you to join our private Facebook group for Illumination writers. Also please follow my publication — positive minds.

Iꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴀɴʏ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇ, ᴛʏᴘᴏ, ᴏʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Tʜᴀɴᴋs.

To be included as a top 10 writer, read these curation guidelines carefully.

You can read my curated stories here.