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How to make your writing suspenseful - Victoria Smith

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TEDEd Animation

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What makes a good horror story? Hideous monsters and fountains of blood might seem like a good place to start, but as horror author H.P. Lovecraft wrote, “The oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” Writers harness that fear not by revealing horrors, but by leaving the audience hanging in a state of suspense. Victoria Smith gives some tips for adding suspense to your writing.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Victoria Smith
  • Director Silvia Prietov
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Producer Julian Andrés Sánchez
  • Compositor Julian Andrés Sánchez

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