Crafting Suspense Without Tech Overload

 

 

Why Less Tech Creates Tension: 

A Tool-Kit to Low-Tech Thrillers

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Indeed technology has come a long way and with the introduction of AI, the bar is set even higher. But what does it mean for writers? Well, now we have writers breaking a sweat over their laptops trying to make hacking scenes or cyber crime technical, while we have readers skimming over those fancy tech passages in search of the essence of the story- that human drama. The art of building suspense through genuine human intuition and detective work is becoming increasingly rare. Just think back to when your phone died and you had to find your way through an unknown city or town using only instinct. That tight knot in your stomach when you hear footsteps in the dark? Exactly. That’s the kind of tension we need to capture in our crime narratives.

 

The Wake-Up Call

 

The real reason older crime thriller novels were guaranteed success was because their characters had to piece together the work manually. Nowadays, we are losing readers to an overload of technology. While we are busy detailing cyber-attacks we overlook what makes the heart race and palms sweat. I mean whatever happened to the classic car chases. Readers relate to authentic and genuine characters, eerie dark alleys with a strange man dressed in a black trench coat and that creepy neighbour who never smiles. These are the classic gold mines we need to harness as writers. Simple. Classic.

 

No Matter How You Slice it: The Stakes Are Higher Than Ever

 

Here’s another hard pill to swallow: the world is saturated with technology and we have readers who yearn for stories that cut through the digital clutter. They want:

•  Raw human confrontations
• Tangible threats that evoke real feelings
• Suspense that isn’t too reliant on someone’s WIFI connection

 

As I mentioned, readers connect with real genuine characters, not AI or high-tech gadgets that solve mysteries. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, instead, let the focus be on your character’s instincts, emotions, and limitations. Put yourself in a scenario of your character, feel that emotion and instinct and covey those feelings through your characters perspective. Think of a profiler who reads body language instead of relying on a database or a detective who pursues a suspect on foot rather than tracking their phone. That’s what raises the stakes, and gets the blood pumping.

 

Look at books such as “Bird Box” by Josh Malerman, Check it out on Amazon. This book wasn't just telling the story but tapped into the essence of telling something real. Something primal. Something terrifying and deeply unsettling. Think about that.

 

To Master Low-Tech Terror

Books That Master Low-Tech Suspense: Based On My Opinion

One thing for sure is that technology has woven itself into our every fabric. However, don’t let it overshadow your story, rather let it serve as a tool. 

A great example is the Stephen King book “Misery,” Grab a copy here. It didn’t need high-tech surveillance to keep you up at night. An obsessed fan, a broken writer and plenty of shocking moments. Honestly, I didn’t finish this book, safe to say I was scared. However, it's a brilliant masterpiece for writers to draw inspiration from. I will add, that Patricia Cornwell does brilliantly in her approach with tech and raw human essence. Just my honest opinion.

Moving along. Agatha Christie. Now this one I finished. When I read this I was inspired to write this article actually. She trapped her characters on an Island in “Then There Were None" - Get it now. Brilliant. It's still a blueprint for isolation thrillers that still holds up. I was immersed till the end. Panic with high emotion without a single phone in sight. I was hooked. This, for me the the true foundation of thriller writing.  

In my humble opinion, "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides proves that modern thrillers don't need digital drama to keep you hooked- Read it here. 

Note: While these books span different eras, they demonstrate universal thriller writing principles that remain relevant today.

Notable Mentions Include;

When I first stumbled upon I fell in love instantly. From how well-crafted the characters were, the plot twist and suspenseful climax. It took me back to my Varsity years reading thrillers for the first time. It was an absorbing thrill to read. These books focused on the high density of psychology and demonstrated modern storytelling techniques. It opened a new perspective for me as a writer.

"The Guest List" by Lucy Foley- Read it here

"Dark Roads" by Chevy Roads -Grab a copy here on Amazon

How to Keep it Real (And Really Scary)

1. Location

• Put your characters in a place where reception makes no logic
• No need to explain why phones aren’t working
• Oh, and bonus points if the weather is terrible

2. Use Psychology (It never needs charging)

•  Fear is the ultimate driver, creating a more emotionally charged landscape
• Tension among characters- distrust, betrayal, or hidden agendas is a recipe for an exciting drama and adds more depth to characters and character development.
• Delve into the area of the character's backgrounds and trauma to build suspense and motifs.

3. Pacing and Timing

• Skillfully manipulate pacing in scenes- it builds anticipation through timed revelations and cliffhangers.
• Enhance and build the atmosphere with eerie sounds, dim lighting- to heighten the sense of danger

 Lets face it, there's nothing more hurtful than betrayal from a friend or watching your phone signal bar wave goodbye. These elements must involve careful thought and structure when woven into our stories. Base it on real feeling then pace it carefully, manipulating those elements to give off that sense of danger, fear and thrill. Be one with your characters, that dark room and that feeling of fear. That's the recipe of a great thriller

The Modern Touch? (Without Going Full Geek)

Technology plays a significant role in our world; I am not dismissing it in any way. However, in crime writing, use it sparingly and with finesse, of course. I will emphasize again, that the main reason older crime novels succeeded was the gripping character that did the hard work. That’s what drives investigative crime thrillers and mysteries. Just remember; a dead phone battery is more believable than a city-wide power grid hack.

 

The Million Dollar Question?

Now consider this before you go all tech crazy: “Would this be more terrifying if it unfolds without a screen between the characters?” Food for thought.

 

Here’s Your Toolkit

Want to write spine-tingling suspense? Focus on:

• The sound of breathing in a dark room
• That instant moment when trust crumbles and betrayal rules the night
• The creepy neighbour surrounded by cats that waves but doesn’t smile
• That letter at the doorstep with no return address with words cut from a magazine pasted on it

In the end, it all boils down to this, it’s not the malfunctioning technology that frightens us- it’s the people who do. I am not entirely suggesting you avoid technology at all, but let’s aim to create thrillers that are genuinely immersive, and thrilling and stay true to the essence of crime stories.