If you read only one Martin Cruz Smith, read Polar Star
Isolated on an arctic ship, Cruz Smith’s detective is even more heroic What? If you read only one thriller by Martin Cruz Smith, it’s not Gorky …
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Write a thriller: How Don Winslow propels a plot around its Midpoint
The key to the pace of a thriller lies in the Midpoint The Midpoint is a plot point that lies, of course, at the halfway point of the book. What does …
Write a thriller: Find a good ‘What if’
A “What if” situation is a great way to start your plotting A “What if” question can spark your entire thriller. Try to imagine any …
Thriller opening needs action
A thriller opening needs action to grab the readers The most effective thriller opening hits the reader with action right away. It’ll hook them …
Two tips to start thriller writing
Just write, don’t wait for inspiration. Start thriller writing. And understand the 3-Act structure Nora Roberts (aka J.D. Robb) knows what …
Write a thriller: Plot a thriller with this diagram
Plot a thriller The diagram shows the major points in how to plot a thriller This diagram is a framework for writing a thriller. In particular, how to …
Write a thriller: Character drives plot
Memorable characters are at the heart of crime writing success Joseph Wambaugh was a Los Angeles Police Department detective sergeant before he became …
Write a thriller: Get inside your character
A writer must feel what his characters feel to convey the emotion and sensation The great Belgian crime noveliest Georges Simenon described writing as …
Write a thriller: Don’t use the magic hacker
The computer ‘hacker’ character undermines the credibility of many thrillers The use of a hacker character in Swedish writer Stieg …
Favorite writers inspire creativity
Writers should study an author whose work sparks them creatively. Mine is Raymond Chandler Whenever I start writing a new book, I re-read some Raymond …
Thriller titles: Too vague to tell a tale
Why thriller titles aren’t…thrilling Thriller titles often seem designed to confuse prospective readers. Pick up a book by a well-known …
Write historical fiction: Finding daily details
How to use historical objects in fiction without making them into fetishes In writing historical fiction, there are two main traps to avoid. One is …