Outside of studying the necessary and ever-increasing number of how-to books on writing, character building, plotting, showing and telling, or conflict and suspense, there is another step in the learning process. Reading.
What does a suspense writer gain by reading novels in the mystery, suspense, and thriller genre? You’ll connect with the character and feel what she feels in a gripping scene, experience an awkward moment between characters, or feel the pause in action. You will discover how well those situations work within a story. Does it present the unexpected and capture your attention? Are you drawn deeper into the plot? Does the heroine react naturally?
Learn the differences in these genres by purposely reading novels in these categories. As Lisa Betz states in her article on the Almost an Author blog from May 31, 2018, a mystery is about solving a crime or puzzle, a suspense novel is about suspense, and a thriller is about action and danger.
Make time to read and purposely take notes. Referring to them when questions arise could be beneficial and less time-consuming.
Write a review. Authors appreciate positive reviews, and the exercise may help you learn how to write a back-cover blurb.
Writing skills have the potential to grow stronger when reading becomes a priority. Reading helps you:
- Increase your imagination.
- Gain ideas on characters’ reactions to stressful conditions.
- Discover how authors describe internal conflicts in their heroine, hero, and villains.
- Learn proper application of tag lines.
- Get familiar with realistic dialog.
- Understand the value of consistent point-of-view
Where does one go to find well-written books? There is an endless supply of fabulous mystery, suspense, and thriller authors. You won’t go wrong delving into the depths of novels written by these authors or many, many others on the market.
Jerusha Agen
Christy Barritt
Lynn Huggins Blackburn
Patricia Bradley
Robin Carroll
Colleen Coble
Ted Dekker
Rachel Dylan
Lynette Eason
Elizabeth Goddard
Ronie Kendig
Dana R. Lynn
DiAnn Mills
Dani Pettrey
Shannon Redmon
Susan Sleeman
Darlene L. Turner
Virginia Vaughan
Natalie Walters
Susan May Warren
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Christian Book Distributors, and many of your local bookstores carry novels written by these authors. Christmas is the perfect time to request a suspenseful book as a gift and start the New Year, digging into the art of writing through reading.
Quote: “Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
Stephen King
Loretta Eidson writes romantic suspense. She has won and been a finalist in several writing contests, including first place in romantic suspense in the Foundations Awards at the 2018 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, a finalist in ACFW’s 2018 Genesis, was a finalist in the 2018 Fabulous Five, and a double finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence.
Loretta lives in North Mississippi with her husband Kenneth, a retired Memphis Police Captain. She loves salted caramel lava cake, dark chocolate, and caramel Frappuccinos.
Visit her:
- Website: lorettaeidson.com
- Facebok: loretta.eidson.7
