Heart of Writing S2 E6 Creating Tension by Putting Your Character Where They Don’t Belong

Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into one of the most overlooked ways to create tension in your story—not with bullets, explosions, or high-speed chases, but by putting your character in a situation where they simply don’t belong.

Creating Tension Through Displacement
Think about it. One of the quickest ways to make a reader lean in is to make a character vulnerable. And nothing makes a character feel more vulnerable than being out of their depth—socially, professionally, or emotionally.

When your character doesn’t fit the role they’re placed in, every moment feels like a question mark: Will they survive this? Will they adapt? Will they fail? That’s where suspense is born.

Why This Works

There are three reasons displacement works so well in fiction:
• First, discomfort is relatable. We all know what it feels like to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• Second, it raises the stakes. Even if your character is skilled, being out of place makes every challenge harder.
• And third, it allows for layered tension. The threat doesn’t have to be physical—it can be social, emotional, or even spiritual.

Writing Exercises

Now, let’s turn this into practice with a few exercises you can use right now.

1. Role Reversal
Take your protagonist and put them in a situation where their skills don’t transfer.
For example: a surgeon trying to save a life without medical equipment.
Write a one-page scene showing their frustration as they improvise.

2. Psychological Danger
Focus on unease instead of violence.
Example: a teacher who suspects her students know too much about her personal life.
Write three lines of dialogue where the tension comes not from what’s said, but from what isn’t.

3. Raising the Stakes in Familiar Roles
Keep your character in their job, but complicate it.
Imagine a detective interrogating someone who knows his darkest secret. Maybe the charter being investigated is running from a past life.
Write a paragraph showing him trying to stay professional while unraveling inside.

4. The Outsider’s Perspective
Place your character in a space where they’re clearly unwelcome.
Think of a city lawyer sitting in on a small-town council meeting.
Write an inner monologue that captures their isolation.
Or a former criminal trying to hide his past as he interviews for a security job. What would happen if the past mistakes of the character trying to make a fresh start, suddenly came out during the interview?

Final Tip
Remember, tension doesn’t always come from gunfights or car crashes. Sometimes it’s the silence in a crowded room. The hostile glance from a stranger. Or the unsettling feeling of being in the wrong place.

If you can make your character feel out of place— you’ll keep your readers on edge and turning the page.

Thanks for joining me today. If you’re new here, I’m J.E. Nickerson. You can find more writing tips and resources to improve your writing on the Help Desk section of my website We Are Wise Thinkers. For inspiration for daily life, check out my books. Enjoy hours of inspiration for your writing journey on my YouTube channel @JEWisethinkers

Until next time—keep writing with clarity and conviction. See you next time.