Have you ever found yourself reading a book or watching a movie where the character is about to open a door or go around a corner only to find the bad guy, monster, etc. waiting there?

If you are like me, you may have also yelled, "Don't go there! Back up! Run away!" ...or something like that.

Suspense is the intense feeling of anxious uncertainty, apprehension, or excitement regarding the outcome of a story, caused by delayed resolution.

Suspense happens when readers know something the character doesn't.

Example:

A character walks into a room.

The reader knows someone is hiding behind the door.