How To Know You Should Write Suspense

by Ronie Kendig

Years ago (we won’t mention how many decades I’m referring to) when I first got serious about writing, I explored many different genres. One of my favorites back then was historicals. But I quickly shifted into romantic suspense/military suspense and speculative fiction with suspense. In an interview recently, I was asked how I started writing suspense. Admittedly, that simply made me shrug. I’ve always been writing suspense in some form or fashion. But I wondered how other authors would answer that. 

So, I asked some of my suspense-writing friends how they knew they should write suspense. Here are their responses: 

Jodie Bailey 

When you're walking through a hotel at a theme park thinking, "A terrorist could hide out here for years..." 

Zachary Bartels

I knew I needed to write suspense because I'd been doing it in my head since I was about 15. Twenty years later, I decided it was stupid to waste all these exciting stories on an audience of one (me) and started writing them down! 

Melody Carlson

So . . . I take a road trip to 'get away from writing' and fall into a Stephen King like scenario that is screaming 'write me!' I am writing it now.

Coleen Coble

I have no idea how to know if you should write suspense. It’s just what sticks in your brain. Funny story. Diann Hunt was writing RV There Yet and was going to have a moose poke its head in the RV. I said, “Di, moose are dangerous! They kill a lot of people every year.” She was thinking of Bullwinkle, and I was thinking of a person trampled to a bloody pulp, probably egged on by a killer. 

Brandilyn Collins

You look at your hot tub cover folded halfway open and think how you could hide a body in the water under the remaining half. 

and/or

Nothing excites you more than learning the man standing next to you at your kid’s soccer game is an experienced homicide profiler.

and/or

You hear of a poisonous plant and wonder who you could kill with it.

and/or

You guess the twists in all suspense books and movies.

and/or

You greet your young daughter’s new boyfriend (whom you immediately know is a weasel) by saying, “I’m her mother—and I kill people for a living.”

Amryn Cross 

I've always been partial to suspense, but I knew I'd found my calling when I woke up the middle of the night and saw a man standing in my bedroom...or rather the silhouette of a man. I froze, immediately awake, wondering if I could be quick enough to reach my gun before he pounced on me. We were at a stalemate for what seemed like an eternity before I dared move. I flipped on the lamp and realized what I'd thought was a man was actually the dark outline of several pairs of shoes hanging on my over-the-door shoe hanger against my white closet door. I laughed at myself, but it took a long time to be able to go back to sleep. 

Mike Dellosso

If you're a criminal at heart but don't have the guts to actually do the deed. Or, you'r quite the hero in your own imagination. You know, those who can't do. . . uh, write. 

Elizabeth Goddard

You quickly survey the best escape plan in case someone with deadly intent shows up---EVERYWHERE YOU GO! (TRUE for me!)

Linda Hall  

When you can’t stop reading it. 

Steve Hyde 

Let me tell you, I can keep people in suspenders for days! OH! You mean suspense! Well, ever since I was a child, I loved telling stories, beginning with writing in my dream journal. I took classes and refined my craft. In 1984, I had a sci-fi dream that I wrote out and decided to make into a full story. Thus, the "Da Guv" was created and began the "Tales of the Interverse Faire" series. 

Ronie Kendig 

How do I know? Because I fall asleep writing romance. Seriously. And no matter where I went, I worked out tactical plans for safe ingress/egress, and what could go wrong. I say I don’t like theme parks, but it’s really the crowds and the innumerable scenarios that hit me while trapped in hour-long queues. 

Rachel McMillan 

When you have a brain that wonders what would have happened if Anne Shirley arrived in Avonlea and found a dead body en route to Green Gables. (Thereafter she launches Carrots Investigations and ropes in Gilbert Blythe as her Watson)

DiAnn Mills

When a writer realizes the world is a dangerous place, and you want to show readers there is hope.

Cara Putman

Everywhere you look you think about everything that could go wrong. 

There’s a kidnapping or murder happening behind every bush. 

Gayle Roper 

From the days of Nancy Drew I've loved reading suspense and mysteries, so it was natural I'd write them. It's the only way I get to be part of frightening situations that would paralyze me in real life. 

Sandra Robbins

When you take notes while watching every true crime drama on the Investigation Discovery network.

Colleen Scott 

I realized I should write suspense when I took a hard look at my life. Thoughts that every white conversion van contained a kidnapped child...or a dead body. A good look at my bookshelf loaded with books on "how to poison" or "how to murder someone and get away with it" was also a clue. 

Carrie Stuart Parks 

No choice, with my background. :0 

[Carrie has an extensive background in forensic art and instruction.]

Are you a suspense writer? Or do you have a quip regarding How to Know You Should Write Suspense? Share it with us in the comments! 

TWEETABLE

How To Know You Should Write Suspense by Ronie Kendig (Click to Tweet)

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen novels. She grew up an Army brat and seeks to honor our military heroes through her stories. Now, she and her husband, an Army veteran, have an adventurous life in Northern Virginia with their children and a retired military working dog, VVolt N629. 

Her newest release, Conspiracy of Silence (12/6), is receiving rave reviews. 

Kendig keeps the tensions high and the pace lightning fast, with military action scenes worthy of Vince Flynn.--Publishers Weekly

"... fast-moving, roller-coaster thriller..."--Booklist

"... an explosive, action-packed global journey .... Kendig has pulled out all the stops in this highly entertaining read that has plot elements of a Tom Clancy or Dan Brown novel. ... Kendig has out done herself."--RT Book Reviews Top Pick

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Let's Not Forget Craft

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling author of 27 books. She is best known for her Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith. She also writes insightful contemporary novels, often laced with humor. Her awards include the ACFW Carol (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, the Inspy, Christian Retailer's Best (twice), and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice. She loves to interact with readers on Facebook. 

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This year as a traditionally published author turned indie, I’ve been blogging on Novel Rocket the first Wednesday of every month. So far my posts have focused on how my switch-over has gone. (It continues to go very well, indeed.) This time I have a message for all us novelists, particularly myself and my fellow indies: let’s not forget craft.

In learning all I need to know about this new indie life, I’ve been reading blogs and joining groups of indies. These smart people have taught me a lot about pricing, and file conversion, and places to advertise, and layout, and covers, and on and on. I’ve participated in discussions on these topics and many more. But recently it hit me—I see little to no discussion on the craft of writing fiction.

Perhaps we’re all studying quietly on our own. Perhaps the blogs and groups weren’t intended to discuss craft, focusing instead on the business side of being an indie author. But I can remember not that many years ago when on my own blog, and others’ blogs, and in groups—we discussed how to write. So I do wonder if we’re losing that focus.

As an author of 25 traditionally published books, I first had to work for years to raise my fiction writing skills to a publishable level. Now that I’m an indie, I don’t want to succumb to the temptation to stop studying the craft just because I can publish whatever I want. For indies who’ve never been traditionally published it’s even harder, I think, because there were no forced years of study and rewriting. It can be all too easy to hit that publish button before the book is ready.

A few of the books I own on writing fiction.

No matter how our books are published, trad or indie, we novelists should have a thorough understanding of story structure. That’s our foundation. The protagonist’s Desire that pulls him/her through the book, the conflicts that arise against that Desire, the layout of basic three-act structure, the building of conflict toward crisis, climax, and ultimate resolution—these need to be our building blocks. We should know them backwards and forwards. Knowing them well leads to an understanding of when and how to break the pattern if the story calls for it. We also need to know dialogue (with an understanding of subtexting), and beats, and symbolism, and chapter hooks. How to use backstory effectively, and speaker attributes, and descriptions and deep characterization, and character motivation, and building one scene upon another. And on and on.

The more I’ve studied and worked at writing fiction, the more I respect the craft—and the more I realize how little I know. Writing memorable fiction isn’t easy. (Well, maybe it’s easier for you than for me. I’ve always struggled with how hard it is.) In fact, I’ve come to see that when it gets too easy, I’ve probably become lazy in my technique.

Selling well as an indie isn’t just about knowing how to market and price books. Bottom line, it’s about writing good novels that people talk about. I don’t want to let go of that focus as I work to learn everything else I need to know as an indie. And I urge all you indies out there not to lose that focus either. Keep studying the craft. If your books aren’t selling, maybe it’s not just the marketing. Maybe you need to learn more about how to write. If you are already selling well—what new techniques might you learn about writing fiction that would help you sell even better?

And trad pub authors, you’re not off the hook here either. I know your publishers are pushing you to do more and more marketing. In the midst of all you must do, don’t forget to study the craft.

If you’ve attended a helpful writers’ conference, or read a good book on writing fiction, or taken an eye-opening online course—let us know in the comments. We can all help each other on the craft side just as we do on the business side of publishing.

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Big Congratulations to the Christy Finalists

Two of Novel Rocket's columnists are finalists for the Christy Awards ...

Congratulations to Brandilyn Collins and Rachel Hauck!

Congratulations to all the finalists.

http://www.christyawards.com/ca_new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:2014-finalists-announced&catid=42:news&Itemid=61

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Pet The Dog--Then Kill It

by Brandilyn Collins


House of Cards is Netflix’s huge hit, based on a popular British series and starring Kevin Spacey as congressman Frank Underwood. HOC has won eight awards and has been nominated for many more. The show is so successful that its second season--13 shows streamed all in one day, February 14--caused Netflix stock to rise to an all-time high.

Frank Underwood, his wife and everyone else around him are ruthless. After all this is a show about politics. About power—and whatever it takes to gain more.  As Underwood says of another character: “Such a waste of talent. He chose money over power--in this town, a mistake nearly everyone makes. Money is the Mc-mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries. I cannot respect someone who doesn't see the difference.”

I really enjoy the series. But why? I can’t say I like the characters as people. In fact, I feel sorry for the shallowness of their lives. And they make choices I would never support and can’t respect. But therein lies the genius of the show’s writing. These characters may not always be likeable but they’re fascinating. Surprising. Multi-layered. With every chapter it seems I learn a little more about them. It’s a great series for novelists to study.

HOC uses an aside technique in which Underwood speaks directly to the camera. This would be easy to overdo, resulting in too much “telling.” But Kevin Spacey has so perfected his character that the planned asides can change considerably. “Sometimes we've discovered in the course of shooting that, actually, the dialogue that is written [for the aside] isn't necessary. All you have to do is a look.”

A sampling of Underwood’s pithy advice to the camera:

“Shake with your right hand but hold a rock with your left."

"The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and casualties. Never regret."

"When you're fresh meat, kill and throw them something fresher."

Of his wife, he says, “I love that woman. I love her more than sharks love blood.”

House of Cards had me from the very first scene. (And isn’t that of utmost importance in our novels?) In my imagination, here’s how the creation of that scene went down:

A room without windows. A group of frazzled writers who haven’t seen daylight in over 24 hours, surrounded by coffee cups, empty pizza boxes and cans of Red Bull.

Writer 1: Come on, guys, we have to come up with something BIG. Some first scene that utterly grabs you.

Writer 2: Plus it has to say something DEEP about Underwood.

Writer 3: Something that’s never been done before.

Writer 4: Everything’s been done before.

They think. The clock ticks. And ticks. And ticks …

Writer 5 jumps to his feet. Thrusts both hands in the air. “I’ve got it! Let's start with a pet-the-dog scene—”

Writers 1-4. Groan. Moan. Roll eyes. “Are you kidding me, that’s been done a million times!”

Writer 5: “—and then he kills the dog.”

Stunned silence. Jaws drop.

Writers 1-4: Whoa! Amazing! I LOVE it! That’s brilliant!

And so we see Frank Underwood come upon a dog who’s been hit by a car. He feels bad for the dog, who clearly won’t live. In an aside to the camera: “There are two kinds of pain. The sort of pain that makes you strong, or useless pain. The sort of pain that's only suffering. I have no patience for useless things.” Then he matter-of-factly strangles the dog. Next he consoles the owners about the fatal accident, promising to “put his people” on the case to find the hit-and-run driver.

I think about that scene and all the various “colors” it shows of the character. How it completely surprises and grabs attention. Then I think about the first scene in my own work in progress.

Hmm….

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The first scenes of Brandilyn's latest Seatbelt Suspense® and Southern contemporary releases--Dark Justice and That Dog Won't Hunt--can be read on her website.

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More Than Words

by Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling author of nearly 30 books. She is best known for her Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith. She also writes insightful contemporary novels, often laced with humor. Brandilyn is also a frequent teacher and keynote speaker at writers conferences. You can read the first chapters of all her books on her website. She loves to interact with readers on Facebook. On Twitter she’s @Brandilyn.

There’s a time to write and a time to live. Writing feeds the living. Living feeds the writing.

For the past twelve days I’ve been visiting my 97-year-old mother, Ruth Seamands (known to many around the world as Mama Ruth). Mom has been our family’s Energizer Bunny. She’s the fun, amazing woman who had her ears pierced at 65, parasailed at 84, got braces at 88, and went for her first motorcycle ride at her 90^th birthday party. But now her heart has worn itself out. She’s gone into atrial fibrillation and has been placed on hospice. We don’t expect her to be with us much longer.

During the past two weekends all of the family came—from all areas of the country—to say their thank-yous, I-love-yous and goodbyes to Mom. Her four daughters were there, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. God was wonderfully gracious to give us this special time with her.

Because I stayed over both weekends, I visited Mom with all of the various family members. I witnessed most of their goodbyes—each one of them hard. Walking away from my beloved mother myself was wrenching. I can’t imagine life without her. And yet I am thrilled to know she will soon be in Heaven and with God, whom she has served all her life. Now she can barely see, hears poorly, and is frail. In Heaven she will be stronger than she’s ever been. Perfected. What a wonderful promise for me and my family to cling to at this time.

My mother was a writer. She wrote a few novels later in life. But her first books--Missionary Mama, and later House by the Bo Tree (now out of print)--were nonfiction, stuffed with tales of her life in India as a missionary with my father. It also includes the story of their meeting. (“That’s the man I’m going to marry,” Mom thought at first sight of my dad. Second thought: “Ruth, that’s the dumbest thing you’ve come up with yet.”) Not to mention dodging Japanese ships on the way home from India during WWII, wildcats in the attic, poisonous snakes in the rafters, scorpions in shoes, and centipedes on pillows, to name a few occurrences. Throughout all the stories runs the theme of God’s love and care. How He calls His children to live for Him—and how fulfilled their lives become when they obey. Even when things get more than a little crazy.

Mom has been weak, yes. But she wanted to see her family one last time. And she rallied for those visits, finding the breath to recount many of these hair-raising events.

I’ve heard these stories all my life. But this time I knew each would be the final telling. And hearing them in the presence of Mom’s grandchildren and great grandchildren was especially touching. They’d heard some of them before, too. I could see they were all struck by the amazing life my mother had lived—and by the power and strength she had through God.

Later I heard that one of the grandchildren read Missionary Mama—twice—on the day he returned home. Again he was struck by the theme of God’s leading in the stories. That theme made him take a hard look at his own life—and changes he should make.

Writing feeds the living.

As a novelist, I am forever soaking in data from the world. How a cold item crackle-feels, the warble of a bird, the taste of tension in a room, the gait of a despairing man. While listening to Mom’s tales, I reveled in the entire scene—the flicker of reminiscence across her beautiful face, the catch of her voice. The way her hands moved across her collar. The stillness of her family members as they listened with this-is-the-last-time intensity.  I, too, felt the power in her stories and thanked God for the amazing heritage I have.

Now I am back home. The memories of my visit are fresh. Raw. Too nascent to work into a novel. But they will age, seep into my fiber to become a soul part of me. In time, in some story of my own, these cherished memories will find a way to surface in the life of a character. Perhaps more than one. And I can only hope my own stories—though fictional—will be half as moving as the true events that inspired them.

Living feeds the writing.

Dark Justice

If I’d had any idea what those words would mean to me, to my mother and daughter, I’d have fled California without looking back. 

While driving a rural road, Hannah Shire and her aging mother, who suffers from dementia, stop to help a man at the scene of a car accident. The man whispers mysterious words in Hannah’s ear. Soon people want to kill Hannah and her mother for what they “know.” Even law enforcement may be involved.

The two women must flee for their lives. But how does Hannah hide her confused mother? Carol just wants to listen to her pop music, wear her favorite purple hat, and go home. And if they turn to Hannah’s twentyseven- year-old daughter, Emily, for help, will she fall into danger as well?

Pressed on all sides, Hannah must keep all three generations of women in her family alive. Only then does she learn the threat is not just to her loved ones, but the entire country . . .

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Drum Roll Please ...

Novel Rocket proudly announces the newest members of the website's team:

Allen Arnold spent 20 years in publishing overseeing the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He now leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries. Allen is passionate about helping storytellers write from an awakened heart.

Alton Gansky is the Angel Award-winning, Christy Award-nominated author of more than three dozen books. He is the co-director of the premier Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers conference.

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® She's also known for her book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors.

Lisa Samson, author of Christy award-winner, Songbird, is known for excellence in writing as well as her artistic bent, but more than anything, perhaps, the name Samson brings to mind authentic stories that makes you think. Once asked why she writes, she said, "So people will know they're not alone." Dealing with difficult issues has also given Samson a reputation for courage in her writing.

Thomas Smith is an award winning writer, newspaper reporter, TV news producer, playwright and essayist. In addition to writing he enjoys teaching classes for beginning writers at conferences and local writers’ groups. He has been a joke writer for Joan Rivers and his comedy material has been performed on The Tonight Show.

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