New York Times bestselling author David Morrell is certainly no stranger to penning thrilling reads. With his 1972 debut novel First Blood, Morrell introduced the world to Rambo, and brought us an enduring franchise that would deliver thrills for decades to come. Morrell isn’t one to keep secrets, and he offered up the five following rules for writing a good thriller:
1. Know your motives. Morrell often escaped the reality of his troubled childhood by imagining himself as a hero overcoming adversity. He has a personal connection to thrillers, and advises you to have the same.
2. Know the genre’s history. You may think your idea is original, but you’ll only know for sure if you do know the genre’s history.
3. Do your research. Details matter, and while you don’t want to overload your audience with them, you also don’t want to distract them with mistakes. Read up on your intended topic, and seek out experiences in person when possible.
4. Be yourself. Morrell preaches innovation over imitation. You’re better of being a first rate version of yourself than a second rate version of someone else.
5. Avoid the genre trap. Audiences care about the quality of the content, not the category. Forget about the fact that you’re writing a thriller and concentrate on writing a good book, it will fall into whatever category it may.
Looking for more killer thrillers? Visit our online library at www.emplying.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.
No comments:
Post a Comment