What makes a story irresistible? Why do some books keep the reader turning pages late into the night while others languish half-finished on a bedside table? In this class, we will study the catalytic interactions between elements of fiction that make a story unputdownable. We will tease apart the different kinds of tension: life-or-death, slow burn, dramatic irony, horror, titillation, and more. We will look at characters who captivate and those who drift into forgettability. We will examine the internal narrative structures that maintain, build, or lose momentum and intensity. And, of course, we will discuss the ways we can apply these techniques to our own stories.
ABBY GENI is a novelist and short story writer. Children of the Wolf, her most recent novel, is forthcoming in September of 2026. She is the author of The Body Farm, longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the Story Prize; The Wildlands, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; The Lightkeepers, winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Award and the Chicago Review of Books Awards; and The Last Animal, a finalist for the Orion Book Award. Her short stories and essays have appeared in dozens of literary publications, including Best American Mystery and Suspense, The Missouri Review, Epoch, Ninth Letter, and New Stories from the Midwest. Geni is a faculty member at StoryStudio Chicago and a recipient of the Iowa Fellowship.
