How to Write a Damn Good Thriller


Book Description

A quick look at any fiction bestseller list reveals that thrillers make up most of the titles at the top. HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD THRILLER will help the aspiring novelist or screenwriter to design, draft, write, and polish a thriller that is sure to grab readers. Frey uses examples from both books and movies and addresses the following hot topics: *Germinal ideas *Breathing life into great thriller characters *Crafting a gripping opening *Maintaining tension *Creating obstacles and conflicts *Writing a mean, lean thriller scene *Adding surprise twists *Building a smashing climax and many more. In his trademark approachable and humorous style, Frey illuminates the building blocks of great thrillers and gives the reader the tools to write his or her own.




How to Write a Damn Good Thriller


Book Description

A quick look at any fiction bestseller list reveals that thrillers make up most of the titles at the top. HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD THRILLER will help the aspiring novelist or screenwriter to design, draft, write, and polish a thriller that is sure to grab readers. Frey uses examples from both books and movies and addresses the following hot topics: *Germinal ideas *Breathing life into great thriller characters *Crafting a gripping opening *Maintaining tension *Creating obstacles and conflicts *Writing a mean, lean thriller scene *Adding surprise twists *Building a smashing climax and many more. In his trademark approachable and humorous style, Frey illuminates the building blocks of great thrillers and gives the reader the tools to write his or her own.




DIY MFA


Book Description

Get the Knowledge Without the College! You are a writer. You dream of sharing your words with the world, and you're willing to put in the hard work to achieve success. You may have even considered earning your MFA, but for whatever reason--tuition costs, the time commitment, or other responsibilities--you've never been able to do it. Or maybe you've been looking for a self-guided approach so you don't have to go back to school. This book is for you. DIY MFA is the do-it-yourself alternative to a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. By combining the three main components of a traditional MFA--writing, reading, and community--it teaches you how to craft compelling stories, engage your readers, and publish your work. Inside you'll learn how to: • Set customized goals for writing and learning. • Generate ideas on demand. • Outline your book from beginning to end. • Breathe life into your characters. • Master point of view, voice, dialogue, and more. • Read with a "writer's eye" to emulate the techniques of others. • Network like a pro, get the most out of writing workshops, and submit your work successfully. Writing belongs to everyone--not only those who earn a degree. With DIY MFA, you can take charge of your writing, produce high-quality work, get published, and build a writing career.




James Bond


Book Description

For over half a century, the Bond novels have entertained millions around the world. 007 has been a cultural phenomenon since the first publication of Casino Royale in 1953. But no book has celebrated Fleming's literary Bond in his own right. This is an authoritative and entertaining journey through the world of the original James Bond, from Moscow to Mayfair, the bedroom to the war-room, the casino to the villain's lair. Ian Fleming's archive has released never-before seen documents and material to create this book. Sources include research notes and diaries to annotated manuscripts and ephemera from Fleming's files. Illustrated with classy, contemporary images, the book is a visual feast, but it is also engaging, with a rigorous and satisfying text. It recaptures the glamour of an age, and offers a new insight into the twentieth century's most thrilling literary hero.




Gone Girl


Book Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “mercilessly entertaining” (Vanity Fair) instant classic “about the nature of identity and the terrible secrets that can survive and thrive in even the most intimate relationships” (Lev Grossman, Time “One of the Best Books of the Decade”)—now featuring never-before-published deleted scenes ONE OF TIME'S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME, ONE OF CNN'S MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE, AND ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Janet Maslin, The New York Times, People, Entertainment Weekly, O: The Oprah Magazine, Slate, Kansas City Star, USA Today, Christian Science Monitor On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: San Francisco Chronicle, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Chicago Tribune, HuffPost, Newsday




The Lightness


Book Description

‘A psychologically smart debut that swathes teen desire and friendship in mystery and mirth’ Observer ‘Like a twisted Malory Towers or maybe a cosmic version of ‘Heathers’’ Daily Mail ‘Funny, whip-smart and transcendently wise’ Jenny Offill ‘The love child of Donna Tartt and Tana French’ Chloe Benjamin




Writing Thrillers


Book Description

In this invaluable guide, thriller master Michael Newton shows you how to develop compelling plots and intriguing characters that grab readers from page 1 and won't let them go. You'll learn how to craft heroes and villains that are both believable and original and ground them in situations that push them to the limits of physical, emotional, and mental endurance. You'll also find details that will imbue your thriller with authenticity, from the specifics of using guns and knives to the inner workings of secret government agencies. From global conspiracies and knife-wielding psychopaths to ruthless cults and political schemers, Writing Thrillers will give you the tools you need to keep pulses racing, palms sweating, and readers on the edges of their seats.




The Successful Novelist


Book Description

Learn how to write a novel from a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author with more than fifty years of writing and publishing experience. The Successful Novelist is one of the best books on writing fiction for aspiring and experienced writers alike. David Morrell, bestselling author of First Blood, The Brotherhood of the Rose, and The Fifth Profession, tackles everything from the craft of writing and dealing with writer's block to the psychology of being a fiction writer and how to market a book. By reading this book, you'll learn how to overcome common obstacles standing in your way of becoming a successful novelist and creating better fiction in the process. Plus, it's great reference guide if you're participating in NaNoWriMo! Topics covered include: Novel plotting Story structure Character development How to write dialogue Book research Viewpoint/POV Writing descriptions Succeeding in publishing And more! Praise for The Successful Novelist: "Like listening to a beloved brother. I found the acute observations and his narrative philosophy more valuable for the new writer than the contents of any 100 other texts."—Dean Koontz, international bestselling author whose books have sold over 500 million copies "This is the best guidebook to both writing and the business of writing that I've ever read."—Peter Straub, award-winning novelist and poet "The Successful Novelist is the vehicle you want if you plan to drive your way to successful fiction."—Joe R. Lansdale, award-winning author of 45 novels




So You Want to Write


Book Description

Here is self help book for aspiring writers which has been written by an acclaimed author and a publisher. In So You Want to Write Marge Piercy teams up with novelist and publisher Ira Wood to offer a comprehensive and inspiring guide. Marge has been writing for 45 years and Ira for 25, and for the last ten years they have co-taught two popular master classes on how to write fiction. Their book offers excellent specific and highly motivating advice on how to: Begin a piece by seducing your reader; Create characters that are fully formed and intriguing; Master the elements of plotting fiction; Create a strategy for telling the story of your life; Write about painful material without coming off as a victim; Deal with continual rejection - and learn about agents, work habits and how much writers really earn




Writing Mysteries


Book Description

Here's your ticket to the greatest mystery-writing workshop ever! In this extraordinary compilation, more than three dozen members of the Mystery Writers of America share insights and advice that can help make your writing dreams a reality. You'll learn how to: • Develop unique ideas • Construct an airtight plot packed with intrigue and suspense • Create compelling characters and atmospheric settings • Develop a writing style all your own • Write convincing dialogue • Choose the appropriate point of view • Work with an agent • Conduct accurate research • and much, much more! You'll also find special guidelines for creating clues, dropping red herrings, and writing medical, legal, historical, true crime, and young adult mysteries. It's all the information you need to solve the mystery-writing riddle!