Writing Excuses 11.29: Elemental Thriller as a Subgenre
Jul 17, 2016
Dive into the thrilling world where suspense meets elemental storytelling! Discover how to craft tension and emotional engagement to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Learn the secrets behind blending thrillers with other genres, from the nuances of peril to the stakes of character motivations. Explore captivating examples like 'Planetfall' that showcase thriller mechanics in unexpected ways. Plus, get practical tips on setting writing goals while navigating the financial challenges of a creative career.
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Sustained Immediate Danger
- Keep scenes where danger never feels absent to sustain reader adrenaline and page-turning urgency.
- Make readers feel there is never a moment when the character might be safe to maintain tension.
Promise Of Safety
- Convince readers that safety can lie ahead somewhere to distinguish thriller promise from horror inevitability.
- Use that promise as a structural promise so readers believe escape or resolution is possible.
Blend Subgenres To Change Tone
- Blend a core genre with a specific thriller subgenre to change tone and pacing of similar premises.
- Choose spy, city-siege, or other thriller types to make comparable stories feel distinct.
