Yesterday we talked about creating that sympathetic opening for our hero that helps the reader connect with him and forgive him (just in case he starts doing things like break the law…or people). What other elements does a Suspense Hero need? Competence. Our hero has to be GOOD at something. Maybe it’s not anything we see right away, but some skill that he uses to save the day. See, everyone has something they are good at, even if they don’t know it and a great suspense brings this out. It challenges the hero’s abilities at each turn, and yet in the end, it’s this hidden competence, or rekindled competence that saves the day. In Eagle Eye, we see that our hero can talk fast to get himself […]
Read the Rest
About Susan May Warren
Former Russian Missionary Susan May Warren is the best-selling author of more than 40 novels and novellas with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill, and Summerside. A Christy award and RITA winner, and multiple finalist for the RITA, Christy and winner of Inspirational Readers Choice contest, Susan currently has over a million books in print. A seasoned women’s events speaker and writing teacher, she is the founder of http://www.mybooktherapy.com an online community for writers, and runs a fiction editing service teaching writers how to tell a great story. Visit her online at: http://www.susanmaywarren.com.Author Archive | Susan May Warren
Man up (Creating a Suspense Hero Day 1)
Today, we’re going to take a look at our suspense Hero. See, when you’re when you’re writing a suspense, it’s all about the guy who rises from the dust, the ball in hand. (Ooops, it’s playoff season. And I just watched the Pack (my second favorite team!) beat the Bears. Go Pack!) so you may get football illustrations) But, just as quick review, last week, we divided a suspense novel into three sections: Act 1: The Game The set up: Players, the Goals, the Rules, Board/Playing field. Act Two: The Guts All the great stuff happens during the Guts phase – confronting fears, reaching out in the darkness for the girl’s hand, stealing a kiss, and failing big, and learning something new about yourself. Act […]
Read the RestThe My Book Therapy Frasier Contest is OPEN!
My Book Therapy is thrilled to announce the Second Annual My Book Therapy writing contest for the members of Club Book Therapy Voices! The Frasier! We at My Book Therapy believe in the power of feedback to help a writer grow! And one of the best ways to get unbiased feedback is to enter a contest. However, it’s not enough, sometimes, just to get a contest entry back…how do you take the feedback and go to the next level? Our vision is to help authors become PUBLISHED authors….. Which is why we’ve designed the “Frasier” writing contest for unpublished member of the My Book Therapy Voices…with a grand prize that is more than a plaque…it’s a TICKET. Or rather, a SCHOLARSHIP to […]
Read the RestThe Guts, the Game, and the Glow: The 3 Acts of suspense.
Yesterday, on this blog, we talked about the difference between mysteries, suspense and thrillers. Inside each larger category, of course we have sub categories. Just inside suspense novels, we might find espionage/spy novels, conspiracy, medical, legal, political, military, techno, paranormal, women in jeopardy novels, psychological, survival suspense, one of my favorite – treasure hunters, and last but not at all least – romantic suspense. I’ve written a number of these sub genres – military, women in jep, survival, conspiracy, political, espionage, and of course romantic suspense – but although each has their quirks, they all have the same overall structure. Let’s start with a Definition: An everyday hero or heroine confronts a believable, compelling, immediate and terrifying threat, and using their unique abilities, learning more, confronting their […]
Read the Rest
