10 'What if?' questions to kickstart your writing

Shake up your writing when it feels too safe.

We’ve all read (and possibly written) scenes that drag. A quiet moment, preparing for bigger scenes, dropping crucial information… And before you know it, nothing’s really happen. Everyone’s playing nicely. The tension? Long gone.

But a well-placed what if? can change that.

That doesn’t mean blowing up the plot or inventing a random twist. It can be a small change. Tweaks in timing, behaviour or control can all shift the energy of a scene in a moment.

When unexpected events take place, characters reveal something about who they really are or their true nature. And that’s where your story lives.

Here are ten what if? prompts to help you add tension to your scenes.