Then I found Roy Peter Clark's Writing Tools book. Full of snack sized tips that can be used independently. Heavy curtains lifted for me. I felt regret shame and optimism all at the same time.
Reason I bring this up is one technique that got stamped in my mind was variation in sentence length to build suspense and action. This article (this para in particular) to me seemed like a masterclass in that!
Oh yes definitely +1 on the insinuations!