That is a question a friend recently asked me, and the answer has a surprising relevance to writing.
Every reader knows what suspense is.
It is the delicious anticipation that comes every time you turn the page. You think you know what's coming, but more often than not you are surprised. Suspense, more so than conflict, is the essence of compelling fiction. It is the pretty paper that keeps us guessing what's inside the box. Without it, Christmas would not be the same, and neither would writing.