title: Writing the Thriller: How to Craft Page-Turning Suspense with Instruction from Best-Selling Authors
author: T. MacDonald Skillman
description: The first thing T. Macdonald Skillman sets out to do in <i>Writing the Thriller</i> is define the thriller. Unlike the mystery, she says, "Suspense is emotional. It's surprise and confusion and fear and anticipation. And suspense is danger. Immediate danger." Thrillers come in a variety of guises: action-adventures; legal, medical, techno-, and political thrillers; psychological suspense; romantic-relationship suspense; women-in-jeopardy suspense. Skillman addresses each element of fiction writing--such as setting, dialogue, and point of view--as it applies to the various types of thriller. For all thrillers, she says, it is best to begin "in the midst of the action or danger"; any subsequent back story should "add a new dimension to the suspense itself." And the pacing should be "like climbing a long, steep series of stairways.... As you cling to the railing at the bottom of the last set of stairs, your heart is pounding; your lungs are burning." Most useful here are Skillman's case studies in plotting, for which she creates eight plots (one for each type of thriller) using the same cast of characters.
zlib_text: Praise for New York Times Bestselling Author
  Heather Graham
  “Graham shines in this frightening tale. Paranormal elements add zing to her trademark chilling suspense and steamy romance, keeping the pages flying.”
  —Romantic Times on Haunted
  “Graham’s tight plotting, her keen sense of when to reveal and when to tease…will keep fans turning the pages.”
  —Publishers Weekly on Picture Me Dead
  “An incredible storyteller!”
  —Los Angeles Daily News
  “Demonstrating the skills that have made her one of today’s best storytellers, Ms. Graham delivers one of this year’s best books thus far.”
  —Romantic Times on Hurricane Bay
  “A suspenseful, sexy thriller…Graham builds jagged suspense that will keep readers guessing up to the final pages.”
  —Publishers Weekly on Hurricane Bay
  “A roller-coaster ride…fast-paced, thrilling…Heather Graham will keep you in suspense until the very end. Captivating.”
  —Literary Times on Hurricane Bay
  “The talented Ms. Graham once again thrills us. She delivers excitement [and] ro