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How To Write A Damn Good Thriller: A Step-by-Step Guide For Novelists And Screenwriters (2010)

by James N. Frey(Favorite Author)

3.93 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0312575076 (ISBN13: 9780312575076)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

St. Martin's Press

review 1: This is a good book for authors to add to their arsenal of writing tools.While there were some EXCELLENT sections in this book, there were also a LOT of pages of information that were not helpful to me at all. However, the significance of the great sections outweighed the disappointment of the weak sections, and so overall I'm still glad that I invested the time and money into this book.The excellent sections included:* How to create a villain* Exploiting the dark mission of the villain* The plot behind the plot* Creating a heroThe disappointing sections included:* Plot structure* Voice and viewpoint* Opening, middle, and satisfying resolutionI'm really excited about the information I learned from Frey's book regarding character development and the idea of the plot behind ... morethe plot. I've already utilized many of his suggested exercises for my next manuscript.But regarding the other sections, here are books that I'd recommend instead:Plot Structure, Openings, & Satisfying Resolutions: SAVE THE CAT by Blake SnyderVoice: WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION FOR DUMMIES by Deborah HalversonMiddle: FIRE IN THE FICTION by Donald Maass
review 2: I read this because I am working on my first thriller (my previous novels include two mysteries and one science-fantasy horror), and I found several of Frey's other books useful (THE KEY, HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD MYSTERY, and HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL II). Like those guides, this one offers some useful strategies for thinking about your project along with some good reminders about the basics of the craft of fiction. However, I would rank this book a step or two below the other three mentioned because it covers ground already covered in his other books, but not nearly as well. What he has to say specific to writing thrillers is not that vital. Regardless of the genre of your project I would recommend Frey's THE KEY: HOW TO WRITE DAMN GOOD FICTION USING THE POWER OF MYTH and HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD MYSTERY. Three out of five stars. less

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