Writing the Thriller

WRITING THE THRILLER by T. Macdonald Skillman
Writer's Digest Books - 2000
ISBN: 0898799287 - Trade Paperback
Writing

Reviewed by Beverly Rowe, MyShelf.com
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You already have the verbal skills and the desire to write a thriller...now Trish Macdonald Skillman provides you with inspiration and help to hone your writing skills and make your dreams come true. She begins by defining the various sub genres of suspense and shows how many of them overlap, along with ideas to help you decide which category is best suited to your knowledge and skills.

This book covers the basics of plotting and characterization and how to control the pacing of your novel to draw readers into your story and keep them there. Skillman, a published novelist in this field, shares her insights on determining which publisher would be right for your book, whether or not you need an agent and how to get one, and the mechanics of submitting your polished manuscript. Some of suspense's great writers have contributed to this book. There are interviews with Richard North Patterson, Michael Connelly, Clive Cussler, Tess Gerritsen, John Gilstrap and many others, with their hard won personal advice in the field of suspense writing.

This well written motivational guide makes writing your novel look like it is really something that is entirely possible. I'm dusting off my old murder plots and outlines to see if anything can be salvaged. Yes...I think I can do this!