I never shield my characters from inner turmoil. I know their weak spots and play on them eagerly. However, I rarely detail these down and dirty mental struggles on the page. Instead, I let their actions, or their inactions, speak for themselves. In short, I make the readers work to understand the characters’ motivations.

Why?

Engagement. By engaging the audience in this puzzle-solving, I lure the readers farther into the story… hopefully, never to escape.

Bottom line: Practice entrapment. Practice it furiously.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe