Alex Wheatle MBE joins Yvonne to discuss the device of tension in his book Cane Warriors. Tension can drive a story, develop character and help to grip the reader’s attention - something that Wheatle drew on in telling the story of enslaved boy Noa in the novel. Wheatle explains the decisions he made to guide readers through the narrative and maintain the feeling of suspense and shock.

Write Your Novel is an innovative write-along podcast series - written and devised by Dr Yvonne Battle-Felton. A writing exercise at the end of each conversation supports the listener to help them proactively work through the techniques in their own work.

A transcript for this episode is available here: https://newwritingnorth.com/projects/write-your-novel/

Presenter: Yvonne Battle-Felton
Producer: Candace Wilson
Music: Joe Gardner
A Sonderbug Production funded by Arts Council England and supported by New Writing North.