The month of May was named after the Roman goddess of fertility, Maia. This week ITW Members R. G. Belsky, Heather Gudenkauf, Graham Wynd, Christopher Golden and Kate White are discussing whether…
Thriller Roundtable
Murder is in the air this week as ITW Members T R Kenneth, Jerry Kennealy, Lisa Towles, Gary Haynes, Nicole Bross and Lynn Cahoon discuss the most unusual methods. Do writers try…
With regard to novels, when we use terms like “character-driven” does that mean the plot should be simpler or more complex? This week we’re joined by ITW Members August Norman, T R…
Setting a novel around a holiday, good idea, or not? This week ITW Members T. R. Kenneth, Cathy Ace, Bob Bickford, Gary Haynes, J. H. Bográn, Nicole Bross and Lynn Cahoon will…
For your first draft, do you automatically turn to your computer, or perhaps a notebook and a pencil instead? Do you type it, or write it in long hand? This week we’re…
The Holocaust during World War II is a recurring theme in books. This week ITW Members Jerry Amernic, Martin Roy Hill, Ellen Butler and J. H. Bográn will investigate why we’re always…
This week we join veteran ITW Members Kay Kendall, Eileen Cook, Jacob Stone, Desiree Holt and Jerry Amernic as they discuss the big lesson learned after completing their last novel. Scroll down…
A dictionary or thesaurus? The Chicago Manual of Style? Or, maybe nothing writing-related at all? This week join ITW Members Kay Kendall, Eileen Cook, Sherry Knowlton, J. H. Bográn, Meghan Holloway and…
It is often said that the first chapter is the hardest to write. This week ITW members Brad Parks, Kay Kendall, Eileen Cook, Jacob Stone, Sherry Knowlton, Bonnie Kistler, Keith Dixon, Desiree…
This week ITW Members Robert Dugoni, A. F. Brady, Rick Treon, John Vanek, Victoria Gilbert, Dana King, Russell James, Hilary Davidson and Hannah Mary McKinnon will discuss the dangers of modeling characters…
Love is in the air this week with ITW Members Russell James, Timothy Jay Smith, Ronnie Allen and J. H. Bográn! Join us they discuss when they fell in love with the…
Zora Neale Hurston famously wrote, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” This week we’re talking research and we’re joined by ITW members Rick Treon, James Grippando,…
Domestic thrillers? Crime thrillers? Action thrillers? Historical thrillers? This week we ask ITW members Robert E. Kearns, Jess Montgomery, Larry Loftis, L. A. Starks, William L. Myers, Jr. and Keenan Powell to…
This week ITW members Jess Montgomery, Larry Loftis, William L. Myers, Jr., J. H. Bográn, Samuel W. Gailey, Gigi Pandian, Martin Roy Hill and Keenan Powell will discuss which books they would…
Entertainment? Escapism? To provoke thought? This week ITW Members Jess Montgomery, Larry Loftis, L. A. Starks, Peter James, William L. Myers, Jr., Cathi Stoler, Samuel W. Gailey, Uri Norwich and Martin Roy…
Happy New Year! As we enter 2019 we’re joined by ITW Members J. T. Ellison, Robert E. Kearns, Jess Montgomery, Larry Loftis, Mark Alpert, William L. Myers, Jr. and Samuel W. Gailey…
‘Tis the season to….write a thriller? ITW Members Lisa de Nikolits, Lee Gimenez, C. Derick Miller, Lynn Cahoon, J. H. Bográn and Les Edgerton are taking time out of their holiday prep…
Robert McKee famously said, “Do research. Feed your talent. Research not only wins the war on cliche, it’s the key to victory over fear and it’s cousin, depression.” This week, ITW Members…
Mentors can be some of the most intriguing characters in fiction as they are often deeply layered and, at times, seem counterintuitive. This week we’re joined by ITW Members Lisa de Nikolits,…
The reader or the story? Which comes first and why? This week we’re joined by ITW members Jon Land, G. A. Chamberlin, DiAnn Mills, Judy Penz Sheluk, Tom Pitts, Vicky Delany, Bruce…
This week ITW Members DiAnn Mills, Judy Penz Sheluk, Vicky Delany, Bruce Robert Coffin, Lynn Cahoon, Karen Harper, Arthur Kerns and Roger Angle will discuss author book signings: Are book signings profitable…
Readers seem to expect plot twists and surprises told inside a familiar story structure. This week we’re joined by ITW members DiAnn Mills, Judy Penz Sheluk, Tom Pitts, Robert Rotstein, Bruce Robert…
The great William Faulkner is often attributed as the source of the quote, “In writing, you must kill all your darlings,” although many authors have repeated this bit of advice throughout the…
The thriller and horror genres often go hand in hand, but this week ITW members Colin Campbell, Lee Murray, Carole Lawrence, Catharine Riggs, Eric J. Guinard, Sandra Ruttan, DiAnn Mills, Michaelbrent Collings…