The Secret to Writing Great Suspense - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T08:25:07Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:69289?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A69859&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHalf into my first draft now!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-18:537324:Comment:735382007-09-18T18:04:15.901Zcarole gillhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
Half into my first draft now!
Half into my first draft now! Welcome to Crimespace, GW.
I…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-09:537324:Comment:705312007-09-09T14:15:10.545ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Welcome to Crimespace, GW.<br />
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If you haven't already, check out Carolyn Wheat's <i>How to Write Killer Fiction</i>. Good stuff.<br />
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What we strive to do with suspense, I think, is to present readers with a compelling story question--something they absolutely have to know the answer to--and then make them wait. It's all about secrets, and getting a feel for just when to let the cat out of the bag.
Welcome to Crimespace, GW.<br />
<br />
If you haven't already, check out Carolyn Wheat's <i>How to Write Killer Fiction</i>. Good stuff.<br />
<br />
What we strive to do with suspense, I think, is to present readers with a compelling story question--something they absolutely have to know the answer to--and then make them wait. It's all about secrets, and getting a feel for just when to let the cat out of the bag. I'm new here and have only be…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-09:537324:Comment:705262007-09-09T13:55:25.745ZGWPicklehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/GWPickle
I'm new here and have only been writing novels for just over 5 years.. You have an interesting topic. I'm presently working on 5 novels, each is in a different genre. One is a murder mystery with elements of suspense. I just wanted to thank you for this thread. This should prove to be very helpful.<br />
G W Pickle
I'm new here and have only been writing novels for just over 5 years.. You have an interesting topic. I'm presently working on 5 novels, each is in a different genre. One is a murder mystery with elements of suspense. I just wanted to thank you for this thread. This should prove to be very helpful.<br />
G W Pickle Angela... you're welcome. The…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-08:537324:Comment:702652007-09-08T10:46:28.645ZRoger Newburyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TrubbleBrewin
Angela... you're welcome. There are several moments in the film that may make you wonder, but I still rate it as one of my favourite Hitchcock films, along with The Birds.<br />
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I woke up this morning with a really crazy idea for a story. Where it came from, I have no knowledge; it's a comedyish styled crime story set in a fictional remote hamlet in southern England. I also intend to work on two very different comedy stage play variations of this project as well, and yes, one will be with Sherlock…
Angela... you're welcome. There are several moments in the film that may make you wonder, but I still rate it as one of my favourite Hitchcock films, along with The Birds.<br />
<br />
I woke up this morning with a really crazy idea for a story. Where it came from, I have no knowledge; it's a comedyish styled crime story set in a fictional remote hamlet in southern England. I also intend to work on two very different comedy stage play variations of this project as well, and yes, one will be with Sherlock Holmes as the main protagonist!<br />
I decided however to break with my traditional method of simply booting up the PC and cracking on with the story, by hand-writing out the basic plotline, and characterisations on A4 sized paper. (Something I very rarely do, as I feel more comfortable letting the story flow straight onto the screen, but, hey-ho!)<br />
I'm going to try and feed my time into this project, along with the countless other stories I'm working on... (did I tell you I have an hyper-active imagination?)... if only there were more hours in the day! Sheesh!<br />
I'll keep you updated on its progress. I'll have to check her out, J…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-07:537324:Comment:699342007-09-07T02:46:42.127ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
I'll have to check her out, Joan. Thanks!
I'll have to check her out, Joan. Thanks! excellent Jon! and by the way…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-06:537324:Comment:698592007-09-06T18:26:11.351Zcarole gillhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
excellent Jon! and by the way, I solved my pov problem. I'm a third into my novel and I love it!
excellent Jon! and by the way, I solved my pov problem. I'm a third into my novel and I love it! Love that book. Another thing…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-06:537324:Comment:697632007-09-06T09:29:10.959ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
Love that book. Another thing she suggests is to always end a scene by answering the question, "Did the character get what s/he wanted?" with <i>yes, but...</i> or <i>no, and furthermore...</i><br />
<br />
Using multiple POVs is also a good way to set up situations where readers are anxious to know something NOW, and then making them wait by switching to another character's point of view.<br />
<br />
Thanks, Jack!
Love that book. Another thing she suggests is to always end a scene by answering the question, "Did the character get what s/he wanted?" with <i>yes, but...</i> or <i>no, and furthermore...</i><br />
<br />
Using multiple POVs is also a good way to set up situations where readers are anxious to know something NOW, and then making them wait by switching to another character's point of view.<br />
<br />
Thanks, Jack! Carolyn Wheat has a great boo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-06:537324:Comment:697442007-09-06T07:23:03.120ZJack Getzehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JGetze
Carolyn Wheat has a great book out that dwells on creating suspense. WRITING KILLER FICTION. She says the best suspense books use multiple points of view, exactly because of Jon's idea/quote--the reader can't know about that killer at the dark top of the stairs if the book is written only in the girl's first person. Got lambasted on another site for saying this, but I think Ms. Wheat has a strong point. The (potentially) best suspense uses multiple POVs.
Carolyn Wheat has a great book out that dwells on creating suspense. WRITING KILLER FICTION. She says the best suspense books use multiple points of view, exactly because of Jon's idea/quote--the reader can't know about that killer at the dark top of the stairs if the book is written only in the girl's first person. Got lambasted on another site for saying this, but I think Ms. Wheat has a strong point. The (potentially) best suspense uses multiple POVs. The best books and films use…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-05:537324:Comment:696842007-09-05T20:33:47.964ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
The best books and films use both to great effect, I think. Thanks, Jon!
The best books and films use both to great effect, I think. Thanks, Jon! FYI, one of the screen writer…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-05:537324:Comment:696712007-09-05T19:36:28.583ZEric Christophersonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
FYI, one of the screen writers on Strangers was Raymond Chandler. (He and Hitch apparently didn't get along.)
FYI, one of the screen writers on Strangers was Raymond Chandler. (He and Hitch apparently didn't get along.)