You may already have heard about the term “thriller” whenever you are at the bookstore or cinema. It could be because this genre is the best in generating intense emotions from its patrons. But, how does literature define thriller? The common definition for this genre is a dark, enthralling, and tension-filled story that can spark various extreme emotions. Among the best thriller books in the literary realm are Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Hijacked on the Alaskan Seas by Greg Van Arsdale, The Searcher by Tana French, A Time for Mercy by John Grisham, and Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris.
The thriller genre is truly a page-turner and a reader magnet. It also has a lot of subgenres, like action-adventure, espionage, psychological, legal, and others. So, if you want to write a book of this genre, here are some tips that you might need.
Use a new approach to the plot
Plots don’t have to always follow the conventional one, especially in thrillers. There are a lot of tensions and actions that your story needs to manifest; hence, following the traditional plot might make it a little less compelling. So, you need to write your plot in a different angle. Perhaps you may want to start in the middle to ignite curiosity and increase reader engagement. In that way, you wouldn’t be frustrated in having to introduce the basic elements monotonously. What you only need to do is to sew the story seamlessly that when readers check it out, all that will come out in their mouth are words of appreciation and amazement instead of negativities.
Bring awesome characters to life
Characters are integral parts of a story. Without them, your tale will not make any progress because there will be no one to move the plot and solve the conflict. It is already understood that thrillers are action, adventure, and mystery-packed stories, which means that they need strong and cool characters. From the protagonist to the supporting characters, they should highlight a specific trait that shows vitality in the parts of the story. This is important because readers always look into characters, especially those who have displayed likable and interesting characteristics and backgrounds. So, be mindful and meticulous in bringing your characters to life.
Start off strong
Every great story has great introductions. No matter how you try to pull off the best plot, what always matters is how you open the story. Put in mind that the first few chapters are the ones that will determine the fate of your book, whether you like it or not; hence, they should capture the hearts of the readers. When you start off strong, you can also end strong; thus, guaranteeing your readers the best and thrilling story. You can apply this technique after you have read thriller books and absorb the integral parts of the genre.
Add a lot of action and suspense
Action and suspense are the fuel that keeps a thriller book to run and arrive at success. It wouldn’t be called a thriller if it doesn’t have any tension and adventure in it. So, make use of the plot and inject the conflict and a whole lot of thrill, mystery, suspense, and other devices that can extract intense emotions from the readers. These are the common ingredients that will make the readers glued to their seats and compelled to turn the pages until they reach the end.
Resolve the conflict, reveal the mystery
Conflict refers to the ingredient of a story that generates the action and puts a spice to the tale. Mystery on the other hand is the element that adds suspense and thrill to the work. In order to arrive at the best story, you should always try to incorporate these elements and find a way to resolve the conflict and reveal the mystery. Hence, do not forget to provide a reasonable and logical solution to the conflict and an amazing and wise way to reveal the mystery.
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