Instructions
- Read through each section carefully before you begin writing.
- Complete the activities in each part. The exercises build on each other, so it's best to do them in order.
- Use the examples and hints in the toolbox to help you.
- Try the optional Challenge Quest at the end if you want an extra challenge.
- Check your work against the Answer Key when you are finished.
Part 1: The Anatomy of Suspense
Good stories make the reader feel something. To create mystery, a writer uses specific tools to build a feeling of suspense. Read the paragraph below and then answer the questions to see how the author did it.
The floorboards groaned under a weight that wasn't mine. I froze, holding my breath. A faint scratching sound started, slow and rhythmic, from the other side of the bedroom door. Scrape. Pause. Scrape. The doorknob, a brass circle in the dim light, began to turn with agonizing slowness. I hadn't locked it. Why hadn't I locked it?
Analyze the Author's Tools:
-
Sensory Details: List two things the narrator heard and one thing they saw.
- Heard:
- Heard:
- Saw:
-
Intriguing Questions: What question does the narrator ask themself at the end? How does this create suspense for the reader?
-
Pacing: The author uses short, punchy sentences and repetition (Scrape. Pause. Scrape.). What effect does this have on the mood of the paragraph?
Part 2: Your Turn to Write
Now it's your turn to create a scene full of mystery. Begin your short story with the sentence provided below. Your goal is to make your reader desperate to know what happens next.
Your Task:
- Start with the exact sentence: “The letter arrived with no name on it, only my address…”
- Continue the story for 8–10 more sentences.
- Focus on building mystery and suspense.
- Use at least two of the tools you identified in Part 1 (Sensory Details, Intriguing Questions, or Pacing).
Writer's Toolbox (Hints to help you):
- Senses: What does the envelope feel like (heavy, cold, lumpy)? Does it have a strange smell (perfume, dust, rain)?
- Pacing: Use short sentences to create a sense of panic or urgency.
- Questions: Who could have sent it? Why is there no name? What could be inside?
Part 3: Vocabulary of Mystery
Great writers use precise words to create a specific mood. Below is a table of words often used in mystery and suspense stories. Complete the table to build your vocabulary.
| Word | My Definition (in your own words) | A Synonym | My Sentence (creating a sense of mystery) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ominous | Giving the feeling that something bad is going to happen. | Threatening | The still, silent forest gave off an ominous feeling as dusk approached. |
| Cryptic | |||
| Perplexing | |||
| Clandestine | |||
| Foreboding |
Part 4: Challenge Quest (Optional)
Imagine you decide to open the mysterious letter from Part 2. Write the next paragraph of your story (5-7 sentences). In this paragraph, you must:
- Reveal one clue about who sent the letter.
- End with a new question or mystery for the reader.
Part 5: Real-World Connection
Think about a suspenseful book you've read or a movie you've seen. Describe one moment that made you feel tense or curious. What specific things did the author or director do to make you feel that way? (e.g., the music, the setting, what a character said).
Answer Key
Part 1: The Anatomy of Suspense
- Heard: Floorboards groaning, a scratching sound. Saw: A brass doorknob turning.
- Question: "Why hadn't I locked it?" It creates suspense because it shows the narrator is vulnerable and makes the reader worry about what will happen when the door opens.
- Effect: The short sentences and repetition make the pace feel faster and more tense, like a heartbeat. It builds anxiety.
Part 2: Your Turn to Write (Answers will vary. Below is one example.)
The letter arrived with no name on it, only my address. The envelope was thick, heavy parchment, cold to the touch. There was no stamp and no postmark. Who could have delivered it? I turned it over, searching for a clue, but found only a single, strange wax seal shaped like a serpent. A faint, earthy smell like damp soil clung to the paper. My hands trembled slightly as I debated opening it. What if it was a warning? What if it was a trap? With a deep breath, I slid my finger under the seal.
Part 3: Vocabulary of Mystery (Definitions and sentences may vary slightly but should be similar in meaning.)
| Word | My Definition | A Synonym | My Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ominous | Giving the feeling that something bad is going to happen. | Threatening | The still, silent forest gave off an ominous feeling as dusk approached. |
| Cryptic | Having a hidden or mysterious meaning. | Puzzling | Inside the envelope was a single photograph with a cryptic message on the back. |
| Perplexing | Confusing or difficult to understand. | Baffling | The detective stared at the perplexing set of clues left at the crime scene. |
| Clandestine | Done in secret. | Secretive | They arranged a clandestine meeting deep in the tunnels beneath the city. |
| Foreboding | A strong feeling that something bad is about to happen. | Dread | A sense of foreboding washed over me as I stepped into the abandoned house. |
Part 4: Challenge Quest (Answers will vary. Below is one example.)
The seal cracked open with a soft crumble. Inside, there wasn’t a letter at all, but a single, old-fashioned key. Tied to it with a red ribbon was a small tag. On it, in handwriting I recognized immediately as my grandmother’s, were just two words: “The Attic.” That was impossible; she had passed away years ago. How could she have sent this?
Part 5: Real-World Connection (Answers will vary.) A good answer will identify a specific scene and connect it to techniques like music, camera angles, lighting, a character's dialogue, or a descriptive passage in a book.