I recently began reading James Fray's How to Write a Damn Good Thriller. If you're not familiar with James Ray, he's the author of a variety of writing manuals, including How to Write a Damn Good Novel, How to Write a Damn Good Novel II, and How to Write a Damn Good Mystery. He produces a ton of really amazing books, so I thought I should check out his thriller-specific book.
He provides an excellent explanation of these seven essential components of a thriller in his book. The Seven Pillars of a Great Thriller is how he refers to them.
However, I believe you might refer to them as components, ingredients, or whatever you choose, and I wanted to go over those seven items as quickly as possible.
But first, let's define something quickly to get things going:
What exactly is a thriller?
In this book, James Frey defines a thriller as a tale in which a cunning hero must overcome evil.
The word "clever" is crucial because in thriller-style fiction, you want a hero who is intelligent and capable of outwitting a villain.
YOU ARE READING
The Art of Thrillers: Behind the Shadows
Misterio / SuspensoThe Art of Thrillers: Behind the Shadows Understanding the art of heart-pumping twists, suspense, and intrigue Everything you need to know about thriller ways to create a page-turning book that will have readers turning the pages. Join us as we reve...
