The Write Hook » suspense

Compelling Fiction

Marlene Cronkhite — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:36:36 +0000

I found this interesting video by L. Martin Wolfpack on how to keep your readers turning the page. This writer describes it beautifully.

Writing Suspense Fiction Books Is Challenging

Kristy Judge — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:32:56 +0000

Writing suspense fiction books creatively is a process that is as fun as it is rewarding. If you’re trying to write a fiction book of your own, then I applaud you. No doubt you have a couple of favorite authors you enjoy reading, and at times wish you could write like them. But the thing to remember is while most authors share some basic writing mechanics, the brilliance comes from the uniqueness of the author. This is what you need to find for yourself.

But there are, if you pay attention, many basic things that can be common among the different types of advice you may find. By taking these in and making note of them, and then adding a bit of your own unique style, you’re on the road to finding the suspense writer within you. Don’t try to copy style, just basics. Develop a style that’s unique to only you by letting yourself explore things you could never find through mere advice.

A person’s creativity will not respond in the same way as another. Similar, maybe, but not the same. You find that creative people are affected many times by weather, nature, and circumstances. They have a deep wonder about creation and the world and the way of things. They shine a different kind of light on the things that fall under their scope, and see the things revealed a little different from people who merely walk through life accepting it at face value.

Moods can change quickly when dealing with creative people. And while many are energetic and out going, others can be quite relaxed and contemplative. We vent our creative sides as differently as we walk and talk and think. So you need to find a way to tap into what it is that drives you, and then be able to put that down on paper and make it a part of your writing style. It should be an outlet for your soul, a way of expressing yourself that means so much you don’t want to stop.

Many of these creative types prefer to ‘write by the seat of their pants’. Which is a method of writing called Freewriting, or Pantsing. They begin their journey with a mere seed of an idea. They may only scribble a few notes about the idea, not knowing where it may lead them, and off they go, winging it along their way. Their story unfolds as it gets written. They aren’t under any pressure to make the story bend to any preconceived plans or plots.

Your rough draft will be rough indeed. But you’ll find, while you sift through and throw things away, that there are some great pearls in there that you want to shine and polish and that are truly and uniquely YOU. You have your own form of genius, it’s finding it that sometimes eludes you. This draft is merely a starting point to give you a direction, this is the clay before you put it on the potter’s wheel to shape it and mold it into something beautiful that only you can make.

Once the rough draft is in place, and you’re tweaking it, you’re going to run into places where the ‘exposition’ may give you some trouble. Don’t be discouraged, this happens with seasoned veterans as well. You have to give some thought as to where to reveal the plot, and where to give sample information that will cause your readers to come to their own conclusions. It can be a bit tricky, but makes the reading great.

Writing suspense fiction books creatively is one of the most rewarding challenges you’ll ever undertake. It can be an intense time of creativity venting, an outlet for the inner you that longs to be materialized into this world. And only you can do it. So pull up a chair, clear your head, and start writing. Write anything, until it begins to take you on a journey that has a wonderfully beautiful tale. Get it down on paper.

Looking to find the definitive source of information on suspense fiction books?

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Writing a Short Story – 5 Key Steps

Marlene Cronkhite — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:19:02 +0000

Writing a short story is quite different than writing a novel. There is the time factor and word usage to take into consideration. It takes discipline to keep your short story brimming with exciting life experiences in as few words as possible. Here are five key steps in writing your short story.

1. THEME

The theme is your supporting structure in your short story. The theme is what you glue your plot, your characters, and your setting to. It is the foundation that holds your story together. The conflict and how it gets resolved wraps itself around the theme of your short story.

2. PLOT

The plot is the introduction and the series of events that happens throughout your short story. It is action and suspense. It is the romance and emotion. The plot involves some type of conflict that needs to be resolved. Your plot has a beginning, middle, and an ending. A good short story needs a hook in the beginning to draw your reader in and keep him turning the page. Then of course, always remember to save the best for last–the surprise twist ending to your short story to leave your reader satisfied.

3. CHARACTERS

It is important not to crowd your short story with too many characters. Use two, perhaps three characters, at the most. Most of your story will surround an important event that proves crucial in the life of your protagonist. Every word counts. Too much characterization and description can debase the affect of your short story.

4. STICK TO THE POINT

Stick to the theme of your story. Make sure you don’t overpopulate your short story with unnecessary detail. Follow the narrow path of your theme. If you must digress, make it short, otherwise you will lose track of your purpose and get bogged down with a smorgasbord of trivialities that you don’t want.

5. THE SENSES

Keep your short story alive and vibrant by using the five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. The five senses add depth to your short story. You will see your images more clearly. A character or a setting once flat now speaks to the reader and becomes real. Here are some examples from one of my writing lessons of a few years ago:

As the old man pressed the canteen to his blistered lips, he savored the last drops of the precious liquid, and felt the wonderful wetness trickle down his parched throat. (Taste)

She wondered if her eyes were not deceiving her as she caught a glimpse of a shiny, round object glimmering on the sidewalk. (Sight)

The stench of human waste and cheap wine filtered through wet air as she pushed her cart past poor old souls taking refuge in the shelter of cardboard boxes. (Smell)

Long buried pain began to surface as she recalled how she watched her beloved, Teddy, suffer till the end. (Feel)

The train swayed gently and the click, clack of the rails rendered a soothing timbre, lulling Tyler into a deep, peaceful sleep. (sound)

Notice how each one of the above conditions drew you in and made you want to know more about the character or the setting. That’s the key to using the five senses.

The five steps should help you get started. Once you’ve written your short story, go back through and delete unnecessary words or paragraphs that do not contribute to the theme or plot. Short stories have rhythm—make every word count. Most of all have fun while you write your short story.

Marlene Cronkhite

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Five Reasons Why I Love to Write Fiction

Marlene Cronkhite — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:14:55 +0000

Since this is my first post, I thought I’d start with a subject that I’m most passionate about … fiction writing … why do I love it so much?

Marlene Cronkhite

I love the Suspense

Creating a story with dynamic characters and a definite stream of uncertainty, danger, doubts, and cliffhangers, is the ultimate in fiction writing. I’ve found suspense can be very subtle, like a soft spoken comment, or it can be a condition with clear and present danger. Nathan Bransford, in his blog, describes three genres: Thrillers have action. Suspense has danger, but not necessarily action. Mysteries have mysteries, i.e., something you don’t know until the end. I’ve been known to use all three of these in one genre, which I call Mystery. But regardless of the genre, it is rewarding to know that no matter how repugnant the suspense, if you want the reader to focus on it, and it’s an important part of the story, then use it. One of my writing mentors at Writer’s Village University had it right when he said: if it has the potential to yank the reader’s brain out through his eyeballs, show it in depth. In other words, it’s a good thing.

Characters, the good the bad and the ugly

Molding and creating real life characters is the essential part of what makes a story come to life — I love them all, even the bad guys. It’s like creating the good, the bad, and the ugly, each character with his own persona; each with a tangible history, a cause and effect that motivate actions and dialogue. If I create a believable history for my characters, then they become real people and will usually grow on their own throughout the story. For more on character creation, Holly Lisle’s, Create A Character Clinic, by Holly Lisle" target="_blank">Create a Character Clinic is a must have book for your shelf .

Setting the backdrop

I love a strong setting, one that can determine the plot, the mood, and the atmosphere. In some stories the setting is as important as the characters themselves. Monica Wood, in her book, Elements of Writing Fiction/Description, says it this way: One way to make a setting come alive is to describe one thing in relationship to something else. As an example, the size of a tree becomes more vivid if you describe a bird’s nest nestled in its branches. I love this idea…so simple, yet it works.

Plotting the plot

Although I spend a lot of time developing my character’s biography, especially the hero, I’ve found that the bad guy is the pivotal character in my mystery novel, and it’s the bad guy’s motive that is actually the force behind the story. Whether he is a murderer, or a swindler who exploits little old ladies, searchingf for his ruling passion usually pays off. One of the best books on plotting a mystery novel is James Frey’s, How To Write A Damn Good Mystery. The part I found the most helpful was The Plot Behind the Plot.

My Writing Friends

My friends in the writing arena at WVU are truly special. The courses, the groups, the feedback, the interaction and camaraderie, I feel blessed to be a part of it. My home group at WVU is called Hemingway Hall — I want to thank David, Ralph, Gin, Anna, Lisa, and Hugo, what a wonderful group of writers you are.

Charity Tahmaseb also comes to mind when I think of special writer friends; She may not even know it, but I consider Charity one of my best mentors. Charity, along with co-writer, Darcy Vance, are both very talented. They have a new Young Adult book out right now that’s sizzling! You just can’t pass up, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. It’s hot!

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