Why do you write fiction? Why cloak your story in the mystery, suspense, or thriller genre?
The right answers enhance your writing and create a dynamic relationship between writer and reader. The wrong answers, well…
Fiction writers need to tell a story. We do so by expressing both the tangible and intangible of our imagined world through words––the perfect verb, an engaging phrase, a well-designed sentence. Perhaps we write for a sense of fulfillment or to work out a problem. Is writing a way to relieve stress or collect your thoughts? Maybe you’ve always considered yourself a writer or others tell you you’re a natural storyteller. Or you view yourself as a Wordsmith and simply desire to express your creativity through nouns and verbs. Do you want to relay a message, share an idea, or push an agenda? Be careful. I give a fat thumbs down when agenda-driven messages rise above a plotline.
Consider the quotes of famous authors of why they write.
“…to rephrase the world, to take it in and give it back again differently, so that everything is used and nothing is lost.” Nicole Krauss
“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Flannery O’Connor
“Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself…It’s a self-exploratory operation that is endless.” Harper Lee
“Life never works except in retrospect. You can’t control life, at least you can control your version.” Chuck Palahniuk
“I write because I love writing. I think I became a writer in order to explore my ideas and responses to the world around me…I liked my autonomy, and a writer can choose his or her own working hours…if you’re a writer you don’t have to retire….” Alex Miller
“Writing is a great comfort to people like me, who are unsure of themselves and have trouble expressing themselves properly.” Agatha Christie
As I wrote my first thriller, I discovered it was one way to unravel the mysterious, untimely death of my father. Plus, his adventures as a rocket scientist during the height of the Cold War, a time when the threat of Soviet (Russian) communism marched as a formidable threat through Eastern Europe, made for a fascinating read. Encasing his account in the thriller format provided the perfect fit.
Why do you package your narrative as a mystery, suspense, or thriller?
Perhaps you grew up reading Nancy Drew-type mysteries and the genre stuck. Are you unraveling a private issue? Do you simply enjoy reading and creating confounding puzzles, wild adventures, and compelling quests? Or is it because our chosen genre is popular, usually in the top five of most sales charts.
“We write thrillers because we want to prove to ourselves and to our readers that right will win out over might, good over evil.” Peter Pollack
“I write thrillers because they’re the only stories I know. If I exorcise a few demons in the process, that’s okay, too.” John Gilstrap
Perhaps Octavia E. Butler best expresses why you write mystery, suspense, or thrillers. “I just knew there were stories I wanted to tell.”
Once we discern the why of our story––provided our personal agenda slides under the obvious goal of a solid plot, interesting characters, exciting cliffhangers, and a satisfying ending––our words can resonate with our readers’ deepest emotions. They identify with our characters and our tale. Our depth of expression offers the “aha” and the “I love this book” moment, touching the innermost part of our readers’ life-story. This connection strengthens their commitment to our stories, our voice, our message. They share our books. Word-of-mouth spreads our message, sells our books, but more importantly, can change lives.
Why do you write fiction and wrap it in the mystery, suspense, thriller genre? Your answer can either enhance your literary influence or destroy a promising career.
It’s the personal depth we’re willing to reveal that keeps readers coming back for more and winning fans for life.
Write well, my friends.
PJ Gover encourages her readers to live the thrill…one story at a time, whether through her devotionals or thrillers. She has received eleven writing awards including first place in the Write-to-Publish and North Carolina Christian Writers contests and a two-time winner in American Christian Fiction Writer’s First Impressions contest. Her one-year devotional book, Celebrate Thee Date, can be found at 4homestore.com/devotional-books.
A ranch in Texas serves as home base where she is currently working on a suspense novel. Offer her Mexican food or anything gluten-free and you’ll have a friend for life.
Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency represents PJ.
Connect with PJ at PJGover.com or facebook.com/pj.gover
