Authors often build tension by a conflict without revealing exactly what it is or how will be resolved?

Authors often generate suspense and tension in stories by introducing conflicts or uncertainties without fully disclosing their exact nature or how they will be resolved. This technique keeps readers engaged and eager to find out more, as they are left to speculate and anticipate what will happen next. By withholding or gradually revealing crucial information, authors can build a sense of mystery, intrigue, or urgency that drives the narrative forward.

There are several ways in which authors may employ conflict without explicitly revealing it:

1. Hidden Motives: Characters may have undisclosed motivations or agendas, creating an air of uncertainty about their intentions and leading to unforeseen conflicts or twists in the plot.

2. Unresolved Pasts: Characters' backgrounds or past experiences may hold secrets that have a significant impact on the present, gradually unraveling as the story unfolds.

3. Ambiguous Threats: An impending danger or threat may be hinted at but not fully described, leaving readers uncertain about its true nature and consequences.

4. Multiple Perspectives: When stories are told from multiple perspectives, readers may be presented with conflicting or incomplete viewpoints, creating confusion about the truth and intensifying the suspense.

5. Gradual Revelation: Authors may choose to reveal information in fragments, slowly uncovering the details of the conflict as the story progresses, rather than laying everything out at once.

6. Misdirection: Authors may intentionally mislead readers by presenting seemingly insignificant clues or red herrings, diverting attention from the real source of the conflict.

7. Internal Conflict: Characters' internal struggles, fears, or doubts can also generate conflict without being directly tied to external events or antagonists.

By skillfully handling these elements of suspense, authors can keep readers invested in their stories, eagerly turning pages to discover the ultimate resolution of the conflicts and uncertainties that have been building throughout the narrative.