Thrillers offer unique opportunities to explore themes and create suspense, tension, and excitement in readers. But writing well for this genre is not easily mastered; it takes time and dedication to develop the skills needed to craft a thrilling story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats!
At the heart of good writing is the personal transaction of a writer. Good writing offers a therapeutic outlet for writers’ emotions and allows them to connect with readers on a personal level by exploring important ideas in narrative form. The same goes for fiction and good nonfiction writing.
This blog post will discuss tips on captivating your readers and provide examples of great writing to demonstrate what writing well means. So, if you’re ready to learn how to write like a pro, keep reading!
Develop your writing style
Your writing needs to be unique and easily recognizable as yours, so your readers can recognize you even if they don’t know the author. Developing a writing style takes time, but it’s essential for captivating your readers.
You are writing primarily because you enjoy writing. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to writing well. On the contrary, different types of writing call for different styles and techniques.
Here are a few tips on how to write effectively regardless of the type or purpose of your piece:
Focus on clarity: Ensuring your audience understands your message should be your primary goal when composing any text. Transparency requires simplicity and specificity; avoid long sentences with multiple clauses that confuse readers. Instead, stick to short, simple phrases and make it easy for the reader to follow along with what you’re saying.
Keep it concise: Conveying your ideas without wasting words is essential for success when saying something meaningful. Avoid fluff by honing in on what needs to be said – eliminate unnecessary adjectives and adverbs that could be wordy or divert from the point at hand.
Use examples: A great way to back up any argument or point is by giving concrete examples that prove its validity without explaining further why this example works best in this context – mention it briefly!
Here are a few examples:
Silhouettes: Body language speaks louder than words, so a silhouette alone can quickly convey the feeling behind words like love, anger, or despair on the page.
Exaggerated movements: Enlivening dialogue with large physical gestures – for instance, flailing arms indicate shock while fists clenched at one’s sides show determination and strength;
Facial expressions: Even slight changes in facial expression elicit different reactions from readers – smirking indicates sarcasm while grinning is joyful; eyes wide open means surprise; raised eyebrows express skepticism while furrowed brows denote worry; etcetera.
Showcase personality: Expressing yourself vividly through details goes a long way toward helping readers connect with what’s being written! Letting go of formalities allows for much more creative freedom when structuring pieces, so don’t be afraid to share personal stories that will entertain/inspire/motivate people more than typical expository pieces.
Choose an interesting story idea
An exciting concept for your book is essential—something that will stand out from the crowd and draw readers in. Consider a situation or dilemma that might make for an exciting read, such as exploring the supernatural, delving into forbidden truths, entering dark corners of human nature, or writing about yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre.
Ask yourself questions like ‘Where does the story take place? ‘What would be at stake if this happened?’ and ‘What would keep readers guessing until the end?’ Brainstorming is essential when trying to come up with unique ideas!
Providing structure
Once you know what you want to write about, break it down into smaller sections or sections with specific themes within each main topic. This will provide structure when creating your piece and help guide potential readers through your work without feeling overwhelmed or lost.
Create compelling characters
Once you know what’s at stake in your story concept, start developing characters who embody those stakes as fully fleshed-out people: protagonists with grand goals or antagonists with mysterious motives (or both!).
Let each character go through moments of growth as they grapple with complex ethical dilemmas that add depth and nuance to your storytelling capabilities. Then, once you’ve developed them fully, ask yourself what would happen if these characters were deleted from the story. If nothing is left, they likely need more development – fleshing out even minor characters adds immense value!
Planning the main acts within your plot
When you get down to drafting, try creating vivid scenes that draw in your readers and make them feel alongside your characters. Focus on powerful descriptions of settings, dialogue between characters that conveys emotion and tension effectively, and complex characters who showcase contrasting traits to increase reader interest; for example, a protagonist who is strong-willed yet struggling with inner demons.
Every great thriller has ups and downs on its path toward resolution, so now it’s time to plan out three main acts within your plot:
Before Conflict: where our characters’ present world is established.
During Conflict: where we learn more about our heroes/villains & complications arise.
After Conflict: when all pieces of the puzzle come together.
Work on building steady pacing between turns of events as our hero progresses while keeping track of any clues/hints scattered around the protagonist’s path that could give insight into upcoming plot twists ahead. This way, when surprises occur later in your writing process, they won’t have sprung from thin air but built carefully over time according to hints planted earlier!
Keep a consistent tone
Keep a consistent tone throughout your writing. For example, if something is funny, remain so instead of alternating between serious and lighthearted subjects within one particular piece, as this will help better keep people’s attention.
Add descriptive words
Add descriptive words wherever possible for readers to visualize scenarios easier, for example, “The sun shone brightly across the still lake…” rather than “The sun was out.” Little details like these also add an extra layer of depth and create a more immersive experience for readers.
Proofread everything aloud at least three times.
Proofread aloud at least three times before submitting written material anywhere. Even minor errors can distract from getting your writing across. It’s also helpful if someone else gives feedback on pieces – friends/family or fellow writers.
Here are some examples of great writing to inspire you:
— The first example of writing well is from Ernest Hemingway’s classic novel The Old Man And The Sea. In this story, Hemingway tells an incredible tale using very few words—the book is only 27,000 words long! Here is an excerpt:
“He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and had gone eighty-four days without taking a fish. In the first forty days, a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish, the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky.”
Hemingway uses vivid imagery to instantly draw readers into his story while conveying deep emotion through its careful economy of words.
— Next up on writing well, we have George Orwell’s Animal Farm—a satire about revolution and power structures in a barnyard populated by animals instead of humans. Orwell effortlessly combines wit with philosophical exploration, as shown through this passage:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. . . This quote serves as the centerpiece for Animal Farm because it quite blatantly points out how those in power often think themselves above everyone else despite their assurances otherwise.
— The final example comes from Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection Interpreter Of Maladies. This powerful collection explores themes such as identity, immigration, and love through carefully crafted narratives that vividly bring these stories to life on every page:
“She noticed too how her husband lingered around certain shops as if he were drawn there by invisible strings; she knew why he did so – to glimpse what remained unsaid between them –but she pretended not to see him choosing sarees for her mother or necklaces for his sister back home… Such moments worked like tiny miracles; they reminded her why she loved him.”
Lahiri expertly crafts beautiful scenes utilizing delicate language that evokes tender yet longing emotions while informing us more completely regarding each character involved.
Here are two famous classic guides to writing, both considered a must-have:
Distinguished writer William Zinsser released his classic guide to writing nonfiction, On Writing Well, in 1976. It has been praised for its sound advice, compelling prose, clarity, and warmth of style ever since. On Writing Well is still a must-have in any writer’s library because great advice never goes out of fashion!
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White is another classic writing guide. The authors provide a timeless guide to the English language that offers valuable grammar rules, concise sentence structure instruction, and helpful advice about clarity of expression when writing fiction or non-fiction.
Choose your words wisely
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Language is essential in creating an atmosphere for the suspenseful reading experience. Avoid mundane descriptions which may cause boredom; instead, utilize vivid phrasing alongside metaphors/similes which can evoke intense emotions from the reader, e.g., “The cold blade against his neck felt like icicles.”
Incorporate humor when appropriate
Humor can be a great way for readers to pay attention and connect with the material. However, it would be best to use it sparingly and only when appropriate for the topic and audience. When you incorporate humor, ensure everyone reading your work will understand it, regardless of age or background.
Vary Sentence Lengths
Longer sentences may provide more detail, while shorter sentences can emphasize important points or create a feeling of urgency. Varying sentence lengths can help keep the reader engaged and interested in your work.
Conclusion
To be a professional writer, you must establish a daily schedule. By learning how to structure your story ideas properly, improving your storytelling skills, and perfecting the nuances of language to achieve the desired effect, you’ll be one step closer to attaining literary mastery. So don’t be afraid to take risks or go outside your comfort zone – discovering success may be a draft away.
As always, have fun with writing – no matter what you create, appreciate it for its beauty as it is yours!
If you’re working on your first novel and are looking for more help with your writing, please check out my other articles at https://ullahakanson.com/blog/
Happy writing & Good Luck!
Ulla