222  Using Tension

222.1 Build & Release Tension to Drive the Story Forward

Build Release
Problem Solution
Question Answer
Compare Contrast
Cause Effect
Pros Cons
Table 222.1: Ways to build tension in story telling. Bonnie uses the Question and Answer method to build tension. Her clear verbal signals communicate to the audience the Questions that she asked and the Answers that she found.

So far the structure is very dry, it’s just about how to organize analytical elements. Moving into story-telling, we see that all good stories are based upon the build-up of some kind of tension that the audience is eager to see released. Table Table 222.1 lists some common ways of creating tension.

Tension is important because it’s what drives the story forward. It what keeps us on the edge of our seats. We want to know what comes next because we have been given a problem to solve. In the best-case scenario, an engaged audience in actively trying to solve the problem while you’re talking about it. Thus they are eager to see if their conclusions match what you’re going to say. When it does they feel smart and satisfied!

As the engine of your presentation tension is built up and then released several times throughout the talk, as depicted in figure ?fig-str. Notice that the key take-home message can (and should be) presented at the beginning of the talk.

Building up tension by asking questions and release is by answering them. State your at the beginning of your talk and repeat is at the end.