Diane Callahan - Quotidian Writer's video: 6 Tips for Writing Thrillers with Alexa Donne

What makes a novel a thriller? What differentiates it from mystery or suspense? I discussed these questions and more with fellow YouTuber Alexa Donne, who’s a thriller connoisseur and author. We cowrote this video of six tips for writing better thriller novels, from designing killer endings and plot twists to exploring the darker side of humanity through complex characters and themes. Read a text version of this video on Medium: https://quotidianwriter.medium.com/2ad5c49690d5 Behind-the-scenes notes for this video: https://ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Scenes-6-Tips-for-Writing-Thriller-Nov-H2H6BO5Y6 Check out more of Alexa Donne’s writing tips on her awesome YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexaDonne (@AlexaDonne) Buy THE IVIES by Alexa Donne: https://www.amazon.com/Ivies-Alexa-Donne/dp/0593303709 Listen to the audiobook of THE IVIES, narrated by Phoebe Strole: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Ivies-Audiobook/0593399331 Order PRETTY DEAD QUEENS: https://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Dead-Queens-Alexa-Donne/dp/0593479823 Thriller Novel Recommendations: + The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (slow-burn Gothic thriller) + The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (plot twists) + A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (double twist) + Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (unsettling endings) + The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas (haunting incident trope) + And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (classic isolation trope) + Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (reporter protagonist) + The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (unreliable narrators) + One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (YA thriller with unlikable victim) + The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (flawed victim) + Mystic River by Dennis Lehane (child victim) + The Ivies by Alexa Donne (using the setting for social conflicts and themes) Love my channel? Treat me to a cup of coffee at https://ko-fi.com/quotidianwriter. My Published Stories and Poems: https://www.quotidianwriter.com/my-writing Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuotidianWriter Opening Animation by Vitor A. Dupont: https://www.behance.net/vitordupont Title and End Music: “Clockwork” by Vindsvept https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zl4EGLoiI8&t=83s Background Music by Vindsvept: + “Light the Bonfire” + “Illuminate” + “Alone” + “The Journey Home” + “Chasing Shadows” + “The Forgotten Forest” + “A Place to Call Home” What Is a Thriller? (0:00) 1. Start at the end. (2:40) 2. Don’t be afraid of tropes. (6:36) 3. Choose a point-of-view character who’s driven to investigate. (9:47) 4. Make your victim complicated. (13:48) 5. Motives and themes can spring from the setting. (15:55) 6. Good thrillers are made in editing. (18:19) Final Thoughts (21:24)