How to Write Killer Fiction: The Funhouse of Mystery & the Roller Coaster of Suspense (Paperback)

~ Carolyn Wheat (Author) "WE ENTER the funhouse of mystery, and the first question many ask themselves is: What the heck is a funhouse?..." (more)
Key Phrases: suspense hero, actual prose, suspense writing, Arc Two, Arc One, Arc Three (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Here, for writers itching to get started (but not quite sure how), is one of the most useful recent guides to crafting words into stories. The author, whose mystery fiction has won a handful of awards, customizes her guide for writers of detective fiction and suspense (although her discussions of plotting and character creation will be valuable to all would-be scribblers, regardless of their chosen genre). Wheat begins with an insightful discussion of the distinction between mystery and suspense--each plays to a different part of the reader's imagination and expectations--and then devotes a section to each genre. She offers up plenty of useful tips, such as how to dispense vital information in subtle ways and how to plant clues without being too obvious about it. Where the book really scores, however, is in Wheat's demonstration of how to construct a novel as a series of arcs, each designed to take the reader gracefully to a certain point in the story. While covering similar territory, the sections on mystery and suspense approach the material from slightly different angles. The final section, on the writing process, provides a nuts-and-bolts discussion of such fundamentals as outlining, revising, and finding the right voice for your story. There are almost as many writer's guides on the market as there are struggling writers, but this one is indispensable. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Perseverance Press (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880284626
• ISBN-13: 978-1880284629
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,286 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A killer writing resource!, August 27, 2003

By	Daniel L Edelen (Mt. Orab, OH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sporting perhaps the worst cover foisted off on a name author, "How to Write Killer Fiction" has a lot more going for it on the inside than the outside. Writing about a topic she knows well, Carolyn Wheat gives readers the wealth of her experience in writing mystery and suspense novels.

Broken up into three sections, Wheat examines the differences between mystery (puzzles, myth, clues, intellectual satisfaction) and suspense (nightmare, fairy tale, surprises, emotional satisfaction) in the first two and the correct way to approach penning both. She delves into the writing details of subgenres of mysteries that feature the police procedural, hardboiled detectives, and amateur sleuths, while flipping the coin to highlight the ordinariness of the heroes in suspense fiction.

Highly helpful in these two parts are the in-depth analysis of the nature of story arcs and how they should best be played out in the two genres. Wheat provides insider tips on how to establish a flow that will not jar avid fans of each genre. Also stellar is the idea that at their core these two genres mirror the heroic epics of long ago, myth and fairy tale being the basis for all writing that ultimately resonates with the reader. And fortunately for us, the essence of myth and fairy tale are condensed here for those hoping to make their own works more lasting.

Part three focuses on general writing tips and looks at the styles of the "Blank Pager" and the "Outliner" - respectively those who write not having a complete plan and those who are meticulous in their conceptions - pointing out the strengths and weakness inherent in each approach and how best to learn from the counterpart style. Editing the novel is afforded quite a bit of coverage at the end and much of the advice here runs to the spare style favored by both today's readers and their audience.

To this end, the author has written a "How To" that doesn't mince words and goes straight to the heart of how to write great mystery and suspense novels. The book moves along at a clip and is brimming with helpful advice. I don't even write in those two genres and I found myself getting quite a bit from the book.

Very good and well recommended.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Book, esp. for Suspense/Mystery/Thriller Writers, August 29, 2003

By	Lori L. Lake "Author of Snow Moon Rising, The... (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

Carolyn Wheat, an accomplished mystery author, has written one of the best books about genre writing that I have ever read. Using compelling examples, she provides a clear and concise overview of the elements of effective mystery and suspense. After giving valuable information about the history of the two related genres, she devotes special attention to each and shows where and how they overlap. In addition to a strong focus upon the structure of the work, she addresses beginnings and middles, the arc of the story, genre formats, and scene and style. She gives special emphasis to effective endings for both suspense novels and mysteries. Wheat covers all the bases and takes it one step further by discussing writing process, the difference between "Outliners" and "Blank Pagers," and what to do when the piece is finished. Her three page summary of "The Writing Process: Tools to Help You Finish" is worth the price of the book. Also provided is a bibliography of useful books to learn theory, for research, or to find good examples to emulate. HOW TO WRITE KILLER FICTION is an excellent reference and how-to book. All writers who wish to infuse mystery, suspense, or simply a tighter, punchier style to their writing should get this book. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superbly presented, 192-page, "how-to" instructional, April 8, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

How To Write Killer Fiction: The Funhouse Of Mystery & The Roller Coaster Of Suspense by award-winning mystery writer, editor, and anthologist Carolyn Wheat is a superbly presented, 192-page, "how-to" instructional reference work about the art of creating masterful and enjoyable novels of mystery and suspense. Individual chapters address style and structure, creating satisfying endings, the logistics of creating a story arc, and more. An excellent primer by a published author who has earned the Anthony, Agatha, Macavity, and Shamus Awards, How To Write Killer Fiction is a "must" for anyone aspiring to work in this demanding and popular genre.