In a story, the writer can create suspense by leaving questions that are unanswered. Different characters showing up in the story, and having no purpose at all, but that are dropping clues for the big conclusion, can keep you guessing about what will happen at the end of a story. In a movie, the music creates suspense. The music and the whole mood will be happen one minute, and once the character is isolated, the lighting changes, and the music gets spooky, then you can tell when something is about to go down. Every passage will have a clue, or an event that happens that throws the story off guard. Those are some ways that a story can create suspense.