Behind the Scenes: Chapter Five of Wrongful Accusations
Writing Tension-Filled Interactions
Chapter Five of Wrongful Accusations was all about tension—whether it was an unwanted visit from an abusive ex, an awkward meeting with a friend of the accused, or unsettling revelations about Shannon’s past. Each interaction pushed the mystery forward while adding layers to the characters.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Carl, how did you find me?” I asked through the intercom.
“You’re on the internet, big shot. Open the door, I just want to talk to you.”
It was obvious that it wasn’t going to be easy for me to get rid of him, so I put my taser in my jacket pocket and went out into the hallway.
“I thought you weren’t going to be in town until next week.”
“Well, surprise, I got here a little early,” he said, trying to hug me. I stepped back.
“You’re going to treat your first love like that? I haven’t seen you in six years, at the high school reunion?”
“That sounds about right. So why do you need to see me so badly?”
How I Came Up with This Scene
This chapter does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of suspense and emotional stakes:
Building Unease with Carl: Sassy’s abusive ex-husband, Carl, shows up uninvited, bringing a mix of danger, unresolved trauma, and even an absurd request—he wants her to help him find his missing wife. His presence is a reminder of Sassy’s past while also making readers wonder if he has a larger role in the mystery.
Meeting Mallory—A Friend with Secrets: Shannon’s friend Mallory provides insight into Shannon’s life and past, including disturbing revelations about her childhood. This adds emotional weight to Shannon’s character and raises new questions about her innocence.
A Suspiciously Calm Accused: When Sassy calls Shannon, she’s surprisingly upbeat about being accused of murder, even starting a blog about her experience. This reaction is strange—does she truly believe in her innocence, or is she enjoying the attention?
Each of these interactions adds another thread to the mystery while keeping readers engaged with the emotional complexity of the characters.
Writing Takeaway
If you want to create tension-filled conversations in your story, try these techniques:
Power Imbalances Make Great Conflict: Sassy’s conversation with Carl is unsettling because she’s forced to interact with someone who once had control over her. This adds an underlying tension to every word.
Layering Dialogue with Subtext: Mallory casually shares dark information about Shannon’s past, but the way she says it—and what she doesn’t say—makes readers question what else she knows.
Unexpected Reactions Add Suspense: Shannon’s excitement over her new blog feels out of place for someone facing murder charges, making readers wonder about her true mindset.
Try It Yourself
Think about a conversation in your story. Can you add an element of tension by giving one character more power over the other? Can you reveal something shocking but in a casual, almost offhand way to make it more unsettling?
I’d love to hear how you approach writing tension-filled dialogue! Hit reply and let me know.
Until next time,
Susie
P.S. Catch up on all chapters of Wrongful Accusations here.
P.P.S. Check out the other breakdowns here.
Good note; The verbal's do create surprise in any story. Sometimes I introduce them to create tension, (or) break the tension in the story. Dialogue is the best way to get into any character...!