Jonathan Kellerman, a bestselling thriller writer and former psychologist, shares insights on writing thrillers, the challenges of transitioning careers, crafting unique twists in novels, and the process of writing a series. He discusses the impact of personal experiences on storytelling and the toll of crime and abuse cases. The chapter also covers the challenges of adapting novels into TV series and ends with a conversation about the joy of reading.
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Quick takeaways
Crafting successful thrillers involves logical development of story, focusing on character motives and pacing to create suspense.
Planning plays a crucial role in refining and sculpting the story while ensuring logical progression and pacing.
Sticking to a series allows the author to delve deeper into the character and story over time, creating a loyal fan base.
Deep dives
The success of the Alex Delaware series
The Alex Delaware series, featuring a child psychologist who solves crimes, has become one of the best-selling series of all time.
The process of writing thrillers
The process of writing thrillers involves a gradual and logical development of the story, focusing on character motives and pacing to create suspense.
The importance of planning
Planning plays a crucial role in crafting successful thrillers, allowing the author to refine and sculpt the story while ensuring logical progression and pacing.
Sticking to a series vs writing one-offs
While one-off novels give more creative freedom, sticking to a series like the Alex Delaware novels allows the author to delve deeper into the character and story over time, creating a loyal fan base.
The Balancing Act between Writing and Career
The speaker discusses how they initially pursued a career as a psychologist and had success in their field before becoming a writer. They highlight the importance of balancing their conservative nature and their creative passions. Despite receiving recognition for their writing and winning awards, it took six years before they felt comfortable enough to pursue writing full-time. They also mention their spouse, who is also a successful novelist, and how they found out about their partner's writing talent.
The Journey of Being a Writer
The speaker reflects on their experiences as a writer and the dedication required. They mention the challenges and insecurities they faced, from dealing with rejection to the long process of writing a book. They discuss the evolution of their writing style and the need to adapt to changing times without losing the core of their storytelling. They also touch on the impact of technology and changing reading habits on the writing industry.
And I have to say this book was riveting from the beginning to the end. You don't have to read any of his prior books to get completely what's happening. It's about a psychologist who also likes to solve crimes and Jonathan himself was a psychologist - he had a whole career in that, which he left behind when he started writing. We talk about everything from how to write a thriller to his career, the hard stuff along the way, and so much more. It was a great conversation and a great book.
Here's Jonathan Kellerman.
Episode Description:
This podcast features Jonathan Kellerman, a bestselling author well-known for his Alex Delaware series, disclosing his transformational journey from a child psychologist to an acclaimed writer. He discusses his writing blueprint, emphasizing the importance of plot, pace, character development, themes, locations, time periods, and dialogue, and shares how he incorporates his psychology background to create suspenseful narratives. Kellerman shares enlightening insights on managing success and highlights that talent alone does not define successful writers. As a commentary on the rapidly evolving literary realm due to technological advances and shorter attention spans, Jonathan reflects on the struggles of transforming multifaceted novels into TV scripts and his inclination towards non-fiction as quintessential inspiration. More personally, he opens up about maintaining a balanced relationship with his wife, also a successful author.
Episode Summary:
01:00 The Art of Writing: From Office to Bestsellers
02:08 The Journey of a Successful Author
02:55 The Reality of Writing as a Career
03:21 Transitioning Careers: From Psychology to Writing
06:20 The Struggles and Triumphs of a Writer
08:33 The Importance of Persistence in Writing
11:42 The Art of Storytelling and Character Development
14:48 The Challenges and Rewards of Writing
18:38 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Writing
21:47 The Role of Preparation and Discipline in Writing
25:09 The Influence of Psychology on Writing
27:50 The Unpredictability and Joy of Writing
41:23 The Art of Character Development
41:40 The Mystery of Motive: Writing a 'Why Done It'
42:31 The Writer's Craft: Comparing Writing to Painting
43:16 The Pressure and Pleasure of Writing a Series
45:23 The Evolution of a Writer: From Fear to Publication
47:33 The Influence of Age and Experience on Writing
49:42 The Reality of Being a Bestselling Author
51:45 The Power of Partnership: Writing as a Married Couple
54:45 The Balance of Life, Work, and Writing
01:06:53 The Unchanging Nature of Human Beings: A Writer's Perspective
01:07:21 The Evolution of Reading and Writing in the Digital Age
01:12:05 The Journey of a Writer: From Idea to Book
01:14:50 The Ghost Orchid: An Alex Delaware Novel
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