editTips and Tricks
Below are 10 tips and tricks on how to write a heart-pounding suspenseful thriller.
-
Allow the reader to have access to multiple viewpoints – let the reader know what is happening while keeping the characters in the dark.
-
Create time constraints – make the characters work against the clock.
-
Ensure that the stakes are high; if there is not a lot at risk, then there is no reason to feel the suspense.
-
Build up the odds against the characters – have the characters working under pressure.
-
Create complications and add dilemmas into the plot – don’t give the characters time to rest.
-
Create complex characters and ensure dynamic character relations.
-
Keep the plot moving at varying speeds and with building intensity.
-
Incorporate the setting and props into the suspense-building (e.g., allow the character to use props to achieve a goal).
-
Cut back and forth between scenes, using the jump between the action to amplify the suspense and thrill.
-
Ensure the reader is involved in the suspense – reveal things that the main character doesn’t know yet, creating suspense of what the character will do when (s)he finds out.
For more information, visit the following websites from which the above points were gathered:
http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-conferencesevents/nine-tricks-to-writing-suspense-fiction
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/the-5-cs-of-writing-a-great-thriller-novel
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2017/05/12/writing-suspense/
(Add / Edit Text
Add New BoxeditHow to Write Suspense/Thriller
|
ISBN: 978-0312575076
Publication Date: March 30, 2010 How to Write a Damn Good Thriller’s purose is to help aspiring writers craft compelling thrillers. The information covered in this book includes how to write characters who drive the thrill of the plot, how to write gripping beginnings, how to create and maintain tension, how to create obstacles to strengthen the tension, and how to insert surprising twists into a thriller. |
ISBN: 978-1599639673
Publication Date: April 28, 2016 Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot’s purpose is to write thrilling stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats. This book includes how to create compelling plots, how to take advantage of plot outlines and road maps to incorporate suspense, how subplots can contribute to suspense, and how to create thrilling characters. |
|
ISBN: Kindle Edition Only
Publication Date: September 3, 2013 Writing Thrillers’ purpose is to help writers create a riveting story that grabs readers from the first page. This book includes information on how to create attention-grabbing plots, how to develop intriguing characters, how to push characters to their limits, how to incorporate strong emotions into a story, and how to write suspenseful scenes. |
ISBN: 978-0898799286
Publication Date: March 2000 Writing the Thriller’s purpose is to provide a guide to help writers master the art of writing thrillers. The information in this book includes the definition of a thriller, how to create an in-the-action opening, how to keep a story moving quickly, how to use dialogue to create a feeling of suspense, and how to utilize the element of surprise to create a thrilling novel. |
Loading content... please wait
