Customer Reviews

Writing the Thriller

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book accomplished for me what skads of other writing books have not to this point: it motivated me to actually start writing instead of just reading and dreaming about it. Skillman covers all the basics, but what I found most useful was the chapter "Case Studies in Plotting." Here she gives the synopses of several possible suspense plots using the same cast of characters in each. By so doing, she shows that coming up with a storyline isn't as complicated or mysterious as some beginning writers may think. The second section of the book, in which famous suspense/thriller writers discuss their writing methods, is worth the price of the book alone. I have read many "how to write a mystery" type manuals, but few adequately address stories that go beyond the-detective-solves-the-puzzle format. Skillman's "Writing the Thriller" definitely fills a needed niche in the writing instruction category. I'm just surprised that such a book hasn't been written before, considering how popular suspense/thriller novels are these days. It will remain next to my computer, dog-eared and highlighted, to readily supply me with boosts of confidence and inspiration along the writing journey.

I would recommend this book if you are just starting out in the writing process. Skillman does a good job of going over the basics of character development, plot construction, and the nuances of the genre. The interviews that make up the second half of the book are, in my opinion, the real value. The opportunity to 'listen' to what accomplished authors have to say about the process of creating a bestseller is invaluable.

I bought Ms. Skillman's book while preparing to give a workshop on Suspense at a Writers Conferece. There aren't a lot of how-to books on this subject, and I was desperate. To my surprise, it turned out to be one of the best books on writing I've read in a long time.

Whether you're interested in writing a thriller or simply need help plotting, this book will help. It also includes articles by eleven best-selling authors, including: Tess Gerritsen, Richard North Patterson, Clive Cussler, Michael Connelly and Mary Willis Walker.

"Writing the Thriller" by Trish Macdonald Skillman is an excellent piece for those who desire to write suspense thrillers. After defining and exploring the different categories of suspense, Skillman proceeds to assist the writer in setting up a gripping suspense novel. From goals and motivation to dialogue and pacing, this book opens up the reader's mind to the important aspects of the thriller. SUSPENSE! Without suspense, you have no thriller. "Writing the Thriller" provides wholesome instructions for the next Tom Clancy, John Grisham and Michael Crichton. Her interviews with the experts such as Clive Cussler, Tess Gerritsen, Judith Kelman and John Lutz is an exceptional tool she uses to provide insight into how an individual writer crafts a suspense novel. Hearing it from the pros is a step in the right direction in any genre. I recommend that all suspense writers pick this one up. Kudos!

TM Skillman's book is excellent for not only thriller writing, but suspense writing as well. Its clear, concise, helpful and laid out in the manner a working writer approaches a story. I wish I'd read this earlier in my career. Each time I re-read it, I pick up something that helps me give punch to my writing. I've published over 30 novels and novellas, and I'm a firm believer in keeping my craft honed, and relearning every aspect from time to time. Skillman's book is one of the best I've read for plotting any fiction, not just a thriller.

I've been waiting for months to get my hands on a copy of Skillman's book "Writing the Thriller." It's tough to find since it hasn't been reprinted in years. And now, after finally reading it for myself, I'd say that if you can locate a copy, do it.

The most helpful parts of this book for me were the sections explaining the interplay of conflict and tension in plot structure, specifying the differences between mysteries and suspense thrillers, and the tips on how to avoid the mid-novel slump by improving your pacing.

Professional writers will also enjoy the nuts and bolts essays by such writers as Tess Gerritsen, Michael Connelly, and Clive Cussler that appear in the second half of the book.

Novelists--the next time you see this book available, buy it!

As a breakdown of the suspense/thriller genre it's an invaluable book. But its sections on style are ordinary. The sections on plotting were good but the story outlines are a little too brief, if you were to write an entire novel based on her examples you'd run out of ideas at the 60 page mark.

The interviews at the end of the book are mixed, some are helpful while others teach you very little beyond the basics.

Well-written but it doesn't stand above others of its ilk.

This is an excellent textbook. Covers the many aspects of putting together a thriller. A very useful manual. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this particular area of writing.

This book has been out of print for a decade and is beneficial for the new and aspiring thriller writer. Skillman tries to give the new writer structure and plotting and dialogue help and to convey the importance of pace and immediacy and other basics of thriller fiction writing. Reading it will give the beginning writer some new tools to help him/her to confront that blank page before them. But it is not a magic pill of knowledge it is...just a help when you are beginning and most will need some help. This book is more of a thriller writing manual of which there are too many but this one I think is the best and targets "Thrillers" which 10 years ago was a fairly new genre. Now--everything is a "thriller".

If you are new to writing and you want to pen your own thriller you should definitely read this book. Although out of print you can still find some copies out there. This will only get the new aspiring writer so far though. A self-help manual will help get you started but won't alone get you there.

This book is as close to a Fiction Writing Masterclass as you're likely to find without setting foot on a campus. (All that's missing are writing exercises for "homework".) There's no fluff here -- just clear, straightforward, easy-to-understand advice for any fiction writer (not just suspense and mystery writers, although that is the primary focus).

True, the author doesn't go into very much detail on each topic, but this is forgivable when one considers that if the author did so for each of the eight or so subgenres covered, the book's length would rival that of War and Peace (or at least the latest Harry Potter tome).

Definitely worth your money.