It’s early on a Sunday morning, and the house is quiet. It’s my favorite time to read so I wander downstairs to my bookshelves to hunt up a book. I have over 500 books, many that I haven’t read. Twenty minutes later, I’m still hunting (It’s not unlike trying to find something to wear!) What am I looking for? Voice, Character Sympathy, an intriguing plot…and the most important element…WHY. This is the last – and the most important trick to writing a suspense. W – Why – Why should they read your book? So it’s fun? So it’s romantic so your character has overcome some dangers and saved the world. The key to a great suspense is that it more than just a romance, more than just a thriller. A […]
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Don’t go over the top – another trick of writing suspense.
Tricks! We’ve been talking in the past two weeks about incorporating a few tricks to writing a powerful suspense. Last week we talked about the Hook, and leaving the reader hanging. Today…we’re going to talk about what NOT to do. The hallmark of suspense is the unexpected twist and turns, the increasing tension and dangers. Readers read suspense for the adrenaline ride and the breathless moments – and you as the author want to give this to them. Some of the breathless moments I’ve included in my suspense have been: Trapping my hero and heroine in a burning house. Pushing my hero and heroine off of a cliff into a raging river. Making my heroine jump out of a moving plane. Having my hero chase a suspect through Epcot center. […]
Read the RestMore Tricks to writing suspense!
I love it when I’m reading a book and I look over at the clock and see 2 am. Because clearly I haven’t been able to put down the book. why? The chapters won’t let me! The author has effectively raised new stakes, a new dilemma and left in the middle of the scene, so the reader is compelled to turn the page. And stay up reading all night. The Key to keeping the reader turning the pages is to… L- Leave them Hanging. In other words…don’t finish the scene. One of the biggest mistakes I did in the early days of writing my suspense novel, In Sheep’s Clothing, is that I wrapped up every scene neatly before I moved to the next. My characters completed their tasks and went […]
Read the RestSuspense Tricks – how to keep your reader on the edge of their seat!
So you have plotted your 3 ACTs of your suspense, understanding the elements of the external and internal journey. But a suspense is different than other novels. It contains elements that guarantee an adrenaline laced rush that drives you through the novel. I have written thirty novels, most of which have elements of suspense. My thriller, In Sheep’s Clothing, was a Christy Award finalist, and won the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. Recently, I had three Love Inspired Suspense come out – one of them stayed at under 7K in Amazon for three weeks. I love suspense…because a suspense contains what I call…The GLOW. The glow is simply that sense that a reader has when they love a book and can’t wait to tell others. It’s that groggy, “Oh, I stayed […]
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