Being more of a “quiet” writer, I’ve been looking for ways to add suspense to my writing.  And no, it doesn’t have to be action-suspense, like a hungry lion showing up at your wafer-thin apartment door like it did in one of my dreams last night (no joke).

Instead, one of the greatest suspense vehicles I’ve seen in the novels I’ve read this week is making your character zip it. Examples:

Jade in Helene Boudreau’s REAL MERMAIDS DON’T WEAR TOE RINGS: can’t tell anyone but her dad about her slippery predicament

Aubrey in Suzanne LaFleur’s LOVE, AUBREY: can’t tell her new best friend about her grief because she isn’t ready

Evie in KL Going’s THE GARDEN OF EVE: can’t tell her practical dad that she sees a dead boy in the graveyard every day

Awesome, awesome, awesome. So my advice, if you’re looking for suspense?

Don’t tell a soul.