Writing Tips

Powerful Ways to Show Tension Between Characters (aka prompts for desperate writers)

Saraina Whitney

Ten·sion: a strained state or condition resulting from forces acting in opposition to each other.

In a moment of desperation thanks to my oh-so-lovely characters, I halfheartedly scoured the internet for a list of ways to show tension between characters and didn’t find what I was looking for… so I decided to make this list of my own.

(They do say necessity is the mother of invention, right?)

Keep in mind that the points in this list are meant to stem from internal conflict and motivations. These are all ways to show those mental and emotional blocks, misunderstandings, desires, fears, etc, between characters.

Now let’s get to the list of ways to show tension (decidedly not comprehensive, mind you)! Because, unlike in real life, tension makes everything better in stories, whether it’s an epic fantasy, a Gothic mystery, or a romantic suspense! 😉  

Dialogue

  • Leave things unsaid
  • Character A misunderstands Character B
  • Both characters misunderstand each other
  • Include almost told secrets, and just secrets in general
  • Ambiguous statements with a double meaning hinting at the unspoken truth
  • Leave arguments unresolved for a time (then characters are always avoiding the elephant in the room)
  • Have characters hint at their desires or fears but not explain
  • Nervous laugh at something said
  • Lack of a laugh at a joke
  • Tone of voice tells a different story than the actual words
  • Answering something the character didn’t ask

Touch

  • Almost-touches
  • Negative reactions to touches (pulling away, frowning, etc.)
  • Have Character A wants to touch Character B but something’s holding him back emotionally, so he doesn’t
  • Awkward touches (example: one character hugs her grandmother but they’re estranged, so there’s no warmth in the gesture)
  • Have lack of touch be markedly noteworthy (example: Character A shakes hands with everyone but Character B)
  • Have presence of touch be markedly noteworthy (example: Character A only shakes hands with Character B)
  • Nervous reactions to accidental touches (flustered laugh, etc.)

Eyes

  • Ambiguous looks with a notably blank expression
  • The too-long stare
  • Avoiding eye contact
  • Looking away at a noteworthy moment (example: Character B says “I love you” and Character A looks away)
  • Have a look say the opposite of words spoken
  • Only giving someone brief glances

Body Language

  • Leaning away while talking (hinting at deeper negative feelings)
  • Fidgeting with anything and everything
  • Standing at a farther distance than normal
  • Standing at a closer distance than normal
  • Stiff posture
  • Being a little too effusive
  • A forced smile or fake laugh
  • Taking up too much space (domineering)
  • Placing hands on hips in challenge
  • Crossing arms defensively
  • Clenched jaw
  • Freezing

General Concepts…

So you can generate your own ideas!!!

Almost

In case you didn’t realize, almost-anythings can build tension (… and make sparks fly) at the snap of a finger. Almost-told secrets, almost-holding of hands, almost-told lies, almost-told truths, almost-looks, the iconic almost-kisses… I could go on and on! Not only do they increase suspense, but they make the FINALLY moment, the moment they build up to all the more fulfilling. So keep this in mind when you go about hunting for ways to show tension in your story! 😀

A Little Too Much

Just like almost-anythings can ramp up the tension, a little too much (or too little) of something does the job just as well. Whether that’s looking at someone a little too long or a little too briefly, shaking their hand a little too hard, being a little too smiley and effusive, emphasizing something in a conversation a little too much, or spending too little time on a certain topic (just enough to be noticeable)… here comes tension.

Progress

Have things build on each other so that the almost- things don’t stagnate and stay almost- things. The tension grows exhausting if nothing changes between the characters or in the characters. Follow up the almost– things with the actual things. Keep bringing things closer to a boiling point with those untold secrets, then spill them. 😉 

Lack or Presence of Something

You can show a lot of tension through the lack of something a character does or the presence thereof. So for most of the points I listed, you can flip it around to be the reverse, and still communicate tension through that. For example, leaving something unsaid (lack of words) can show tension.

I hope that sparked some ideas for your WIP! If you’re looking for more ways to vanquish Writer’s Block, check out 55 Tricks to Break Writer’s Block: Quick Inspiration! What are your favorite ways to show tension between characters? Did this give you new ideas for your WIP? What’s the most tension-filled story you’ve ever read? How do you find ways to up the tension in your books? And most importantly, what’s the last movie you watched? (I must know!)

24 thoughts on “Powerful Ways to Show Tension Between Characters (aka prompts for desperate writers)”

  1. *evil chortle* I may be able to incorporate some of these into “IRON”. Thank you for these! Honestly, I think one of the most tension-filled stories I’ve read is “Shattered Reflection” by yours truly. At least, *I* think it’s tension-filled. Others may not.

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    1. *equally evil chortle* Ooo, I love that!!! 😉 You’re so welcome! 😀 Oh, Madi, I seriously cannot wait to read Shattered Reflections! It sure sounds like a super tension-filled story to me!!!

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  2. Ah, I love this post! This is so helpful for all the tension scenes. 🙂 Hmm, I think one of my favorite tension creators is the “negative touches.” Especially if it’s with some eye contact and initial acceptance. Makes all the drama. 🙂

    And the last movie I watched was actually just last night, which is pretty abnormal for me! We watched an old Sherlock Holmes (from the forties, I think), and there was definitely some tension.

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    1. Ahh, thank you, Vanessa!! So glad you like it! YES! I agree, that is a splendid tension – and drama – creator, for certain! 😉

      No way! That’s so cool! I’ve seen one of those before and yes, definitely some tension. 😉 I wish I could say “I Still Believe” was the last movie I watched a few days ago, because I absolutely loved it and wanted to ramble about it, haha, but the actual last movie I watched last night was a thriller called “Hours” and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more tension-filled movie. (I must blame my brother for putting it on. I was just in the same room; I didn’t WANT to watch it. 😂)

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      1. Yeah, I’m not a huge mystery person, but I love trying to figure out who the villain is. Of course, I never can. *sigh* Or there’s some huge twist I never saw coming. One or the other. 🙂 Ooh … that sounds like a stressful movie. Did it inspire this post? 🙂 And I think I’ve heard of “I Still Believe” – is it about a musician? (wracking my brain for correct memories …)

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        1. Haha, I can relate with that! I’m usually not great at guessing who the villain actually is. *sigh* (My mom is scarily amazing at it, though! She’s almost always right. XD) Lol, it was stressful! Actually, I’d written the post before I watched the movie, though it would’ve been good inspiration! 😉 😀

          Yesss, “I Still Believe” is about the singer Jeremy Camp!

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    1. Ooo, I’ve never heard of that! *looks it up* Wait, I have heard of it. Definitely looks quirky! One of these days I’ve got to actually READ Alice in Wonderland, lol. *smh* 😀

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  4. I love a good spice of tension. 😉 It always makes the book so much better! Wonderful tips! I can’t think of the most tension-filled story I’ve ever read. What about you? (I love learning about body language and reading people! Do you? 🙂 )

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    1. Me too!! Aww, thank you!!! Yeah, I don’t know if I can think of – or, more accurately, DECIDE on – the most tension-filled story I’ve ever read, but it would probably be some historical fiction novel I’ve read. 😉 Wait, I know! “Untold” by Vanessa Hall, which I recently read (and adore). 😀 That had some epic tension. (*gasps* Yes girl, that kinda stuff is unendingly cool!!!)

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  5. What a great list! I’ve been working on a project that lives and breathes tension so I’ll have to go over it and try to put some of these in!
    I finished Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines last night and it was pretty good, along the same vein as The Great Race (but cleaner) and It’s A Mad Mad Mad World (but also cleaner and less mad lol).

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    1. Thank you SO much, Grace!! 😀 Ooh, that’s wonderful! Exciting! I’ve never heard of Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, but it sounds entertaining! (Lol, cleaner and less mad! That made me laugh. 🤣 I have seen that one and yeah, it could definitely do without some of the content it had lol.)

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  7. Great lists! You should make them into Pinterest pins.
    One thing that makes great tension is context. Also, there’s usually an emotion or mix of emotion behind tension.
    Btw I’m a sucker for ROMANTIC tension ahahaaha!

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  8. AAAH SARAINA I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tension is like so, so much fun for me to write in my books but I do end up using some of the same things over and over and over again. So I am DEFINITELY coming back to this list often to help in changing things up!!! Aaah I actually am already getting so many great ideas for my WIP on how I can make the tension better. And much more fun. Hehehe. XD THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing!!!!

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    1. AHHHH!!!! Thank you so much, Issabelle!!!! I know right? SO fun to write!!! Aww, thank you!!! Ooo, you are getting ideas? *grins and gives you a high five* YAY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! XDD I’m so glad to hear that!!! Absolutely, thank YOU for reading, girl! 😀 ❤

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