Thriller Roundtable
If a mystery is a tale about solving a crime while a thriller is about stopping one, how would you write a blend of the two? That’s the question posed to this week’s all-star lineup of ITW Members: James Hilton, Linda Bennett Pennell, Nick Kolakowski, Mysti Berry, Richard Mabry, David Simms, Frank Zafiro, Dave Zeltserman, R. J. Pineiro, Martin Roy Hill, Ellison Cooper, Arthur Kerns and Alex Lettau. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Plotter or pantser? Since early man began scratching stories onto the walls of caves, the age-old question has been asked: How do you write, from the seat of your pants or are you a planner? This week ITW Members Ann Simas, James Hilton, Linda Bennett Pennell, Nick Kolakowski, Lynn Cahoon, Charles Salzberg, Kellye Garrett, Mysti Berry, Richard Mabry, David Bell, David Simms, Frank Zafiro, Ronie Kendig and Lane Stone will take a crack at it. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Whether it’s The Motorcycle Diaries and Midnight in Paris, or Misery and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, writers have always played some of our favorite protagonists. This week we ask ITW members James Hilton, Lynn Cahoon, Mysti Berry, David Bell, David Simms, Frank Zafiro and R. J. Pineiro the age-old question: Do you enjoy films with authors as protagonists? Why? Scroll down to the “comments” section to see how this one plays out!
Clues foreshadow how plots unfold and characters react. This week we’re joined by ITW Members Alan Jacobson, Jay Brandon, Robert J. Stava, Sarah Simpson and David Orange as they answer the question: What is the best clue you have inserted into a novel as a writer? Scroll down to the “comments” section to see how this unfolds!
With ThrillerFest firmly in our rearview mirror and our writing bucket full of inspiration, we turn to ITW Members Alan Jacobson, Patrick Oster, Jay Brandon, Robert J. Stava, Paul D. Brazill, Kim Alexander, Sarah Simpson, William Boyle, David Orange and Lisa Black as they discuss how they choose their character’s names. Scroll down to the “comments” section to see what they have to say!
Post ThrillerFest we’re discussing those grand climaxes so often associated with thrillers. We’re joined by ITW Members Martin Roy Hill, Alan Jacobson, Sandra Block, Robert J. Stava, Sarah Simpson, J.H. Bográn and Carole Lawrence as they answer the question: “Thrillers are known for their grand, loud, all-out climaxes. How do you set them up?” Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You won’t be sorry!
With ThrillerFest starting this week and Pitchfest on Thursday we’re honored to be joined this week by literary agents and editors Jill Marr, Chantelle Aimée Osman, Gina Panettieri, Peter Rubie, Ann Leslie Tuttle, Paula Munier and Terrie Wolf as they reveal the most common mistake writers make when approaching an agent. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You really won’t want to miss this!
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With Pitchfest on the horizon we’re honored to be joined this week by literary agents and editors Chantelle Aimée Osman, Jill Marr, Gina Panettieri, Peter Rubie, Ann Leslie Tuttle, Paula Munier and Terrie Wolf. This week’s question: How much editing/revisions you do before sending a new project to a publisher? Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You really won’t want to miss this!
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With Pitchfest on the horizon we’re honored to be joined this week by literary agents and editors Lynnette Novak, Jessica Faust, Chantelle Aimée Osman, Jill Marr, Gina Panettieri, Peter Rubie, Ann Leslie Tuttle and Paula Munier as they discuss the question: Can you define the one thing that makes you sign an author? Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You really won’t want to miss this!
This week we’re taking about blurbs with ITW Members Paul Levine, Paul Sinor, David Simms, J.H. Bográn, T.J. O’Connor and Arthur Kerns. What’s the advantage of having a blurb from another author and how do you choose who to ask? Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along – you won’t want to miss this!
Stephen King has said a novel’s draft should be done in three months. this week ITW Members Paul Levine, Ammar Habib, Paul Sinor, Katee Robert, Lisa Von Biela, David Simms, E.M. Powell and T.J. O’Connor discuss how long it takes them to finish the first draft? Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Summer’s almost here and inquiring minds want to know: How do you plan your summer writing schedule? Does it change through the seasons? Join ITW Members Rich Wickliffe, Paul Gitsham, Ammar Habib, Lisa Von Biela and David Simms as they discuss how their writing ritual changes throughout the seasons. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
It’s something we’ve all had to deal with at one time or another: writer’s block. This week we’re joined by ITW Members Rob Leininger, Bob Mayer, Judy Penz Sheluk, Jon Land, Paul D. Marks and R.G. Belsky to discuss how they deal with writer’s block? Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along – you won’t want to miss this!
First person or third person or something else? This week ITW Members Erica Miner, Chris Malburg, Sanjida Kay, Judy Penz Sheluk, Mitch Silver, Patricia Rosemoor, Jon Land, Martin Roy Hill, Dave Zeltserman, Paul D. Marks and R.G. Belsky will discuss how they decide. Scroll down to the comments section to learn more!
This week we’re joined by ITW Members Mariah Fredericks, Erica Miner, Sanjida Kay, Judy Penz Sheluk, Mitchell Silver, Paul D. Marks and Arthur Kerns as they discuss when they write: Do you prefer to write during the early morning or the dead of night? Why? Early birds should scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
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SPECIAL FEATURES
- Between the Lines: Steve Berry and M. J. Rose by Dawn Ius
- Between the Lines: Lori Rader-Day by E. M. Powell
- Between the Lines: Robert Dugoni by Dawn Ius
- ThrillerFest: A Record-Breaking Conference by Nancy Bilyeau
- ThrillerFest: Meet the ITW Award Winners by Dawn Ius
- ThrillerFest: Killing It With Tiny Jason by Dawn Ius
- Trend Alert: YA Thrillers on the Rise? by Dawn Ius
- Up Close: Megan Abbott by Alex Segura
- Up Close: Karin Slaughter by April Snellings
- Up Close: Sonja Stone by Dawn Ius
- Up Close: A. J. Banner by R. G. Belsky
- Neil Nyren Spotlight: Ellison Cooper
- Africa Scene: Toni Kan by Michael Sears
Discover Tomorrow’s Hottest Thriller Authors Today on Inside Thrill Radio!
Inside Thrill Radio airs monthly, as host Jenny Milchman takes listeners deep behind the scenes to hear about brand new thrillers and how they came to be.
“Win, Lose, or Draw” is available starting April 19th: Three authors, who between them have racked up Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, Shamus, and Lefty award nominations, talk about their new thrillers! Will they win, lose, or draw at this year’s award ceremonies? Hear about their books and judge for yourself. Featuring guests Matt Coyle, Nadine Nettmann, and Lili Wright.
