Writing a Thriller

As a member of International Thriller Writers, I served in 2024 as a judge for its best standalone thriller novels published that year. I read well over 100 entries over several months to compile my list of the best and compare that list with those of the other judges for that category.

Classic thriller novels often feature high-stakes danger, psychological twists, and unforgettable villains. These features create suspense. So how can you maximize suspense?

While reading them, I recorded ways the writers tightened or relaxed their suspenseful hold on their readers:

Here were some of the techniques writers used to tighten suspense:

• They slowed down the pace of the story, such as with characters’ senses, feelings, and

thoughts when approaching the climax of a tense scene.

• They infused their scenes with darkness and shadows.

• Their scenes occurred during the night, in sleazy neighborhoods, and/or during storms.

• They made time crucial with the clock ticking.

• They left the scene at a high point to prolong the tension and rejoined later.

To prevent tiring the reader, they occasionally relaxed their suspenseful hold by:

• Describing the setting

• Summarizing clues and events up to that point

• Having a significant character reflect on a thought or event

• Inserting backstory or a flashback

• Using humor

No matter what kind of story you write, be sure to become familiar with the classics in that genre. If you are interested in writing a thriller, then click here.