Every once in a while, I hate a book. Sometimes the bad reaction says more about me than the book. (I once rated Me Without You, a perfectly fine novel, one star because I was in a lousy mood.) Other times the story just isn’t for me. If I figure this out in the firstContinue reading “Make It Stop”
Tag Archives: Plotting
How To Be A Best-selling Author
Writers seem to fall into two camps: those that aspire to best-seller status and those that don’t. The latter snort derisively at the lowbrow efforts that top the lists, perpetuating the stereotype that quality is an aquired taste. Others write intentionally towards sales, shuttling serious topics in favor of murder mysteries and epics. As someoneContinue reading “How To Be A Best-selling Author”
The Most Likely Suspect
When creating a mystery, you need a compelling premise, five or six plausible culprits, and a few twists along the way. The basic elements of the genre haven’t changed much since the first detective story was published in 1841. When it comes to secondary elements, the recipe can be tweaked a bit. It used toContinue reading “The Most Likely Suspect”
The Suspense Formula
In a standard murder mystery, an inciting incident – an unnatural death -happens early on. The detective – amateur or professional – is introduced to investigate the crime, usually in the form of meeting potential culprits and trying to discern their means and motive. There is usually some escalating dramatic tension as the detective pursuesContinue reading “The Suspense Formula”
Execute This
Without question, many intriguing premises collapse in the execution. A gripping opening gives way to flat characterization, unnecessary subplots, or a sluggish midsection. Fabulous twists don’t hold up to scrutiny when the culprit is revealed. Although the killer is a surprise, his motivation is implausible. If you read in the mystery/suspense genre, you know whatContinue reading “Execute This”
Books Smitten 