Every story needs a sense of suspense to keep readers engaged and turning pages, so every writer can learn something from the art of crafting a top-notch thriller. While your story might not require a car chase or game of cat and mouse between two canny opponents, your protagonist does need to thwart killer obstacles.
In a post on Writer’s Digest, writer Wanda Morris offers six tips for writing a gripping thriller, including:
- Make a promise to your reader at the beginning. Your opening scene sends a signal to your reader about the kind of story they’re about to read. In a thriller, your hook might be a murder or a chase scene, but every story needs to make a specific invitation to the reader.
- Take your reader somewhere interesting. Done well, an unfamiliar place or time can use your reader’s curiosity to pull them into the story. Be sure to involve the setting in your plot. Use the setting to focus your story and illuminate your characters and conflicts.
- Make it all matter. Your character should have a tough time getting from A to Z and they definitely should have skin in the game. When things look bleakest, make them worse and force your characters to make difficult choices.
Read the rest of Morris’ advice at the link below.
