Robert Langdon, literature’s most famous symbologist, is called in to solve a bizarre murder at the beginning of The Da Vinci Code. The murder sets the plot in motion, driving the hero into a race to solve the puzzle before the villains. Certainly, The Da Vinci Code must be a plot-driven novel. BUT Robert LangdonContinue reading “The Da Vinci Code – Decoding Plot-Driven vs Character-Driven Novels”
Category Archives: writing tips – character
The Surprising Secret of Thrillers Readers Love
As thriller authors and fans, we scour the virtual shelves for stories that weave in several key elements, but which is the one that keeps you turning pages? Is it… High Stakes Often, the future of the world is held in the balance, whether it’s an evil conspiracy to control financial markets, a bio-weaponContinue reading “The Surprising Secret of Thrillers Readers Love”
What Charles Dickens Can Teach Us about Writing
Five facts about Charles Dickens that can teach us all about writing, in celebration of the 201st anniversary of his birthday on February 7, 2013: 1. Dickens was the second oldest of eight children. He was the father of ten children. What Dickens can teach us: Yes, you can pursue your passion and have a family.Continue reading “What Charles Dickens Can Teach Us about Writing”
How Leonardo DiCaprio Makes Thriller Writing Fun
I want to be like Castle on tv. He is an amazingly successful fictional fiction writer who spends as much time finding ways to have fun as finding clever plot twists. But since we don’t live in tv world for more than an hour or two at a time, I struggle as a thriller writer toContinue reading “How Leonardo DiCaprio Makes Thriller Writing Fun”
How to Take Charge of Your Novel: Write it Now 4 Review and Scrivener Shout Out
I was a juggler on a tightrope balancing over a pool of crocodiles. I had way too many balls in the air–complex plot, historical references, multi-layered characters, puzzles, action scenes, spiritual themes, challenging settings, dynamic relationships. I was struggling to remember who had done what, who knew what, and did I change that yet inContinue reading “How to Take Charge of Your Novel: Write it Now 4 Review and Scrivener Shout Out”
Making Mr. Right – Love Will Find a Way in Fiction
I recently and, I admit, somewhat reluctantly, attended a workshop led by Mindy Starns Clark. Her bio cast her as a romance writer, a Christian romance writer. I’m a thriller writer, so I wondered if what she had to say would be relevant. Then again, she had mentioned on another conference panel that one of herContinue reading “Making Mr. Right – Love Will Find a Way in Fiction”
What Van Gogh Can Teach Us About Writing
During my recent visit to New York’s Museum of Modern Art, a crowd gathered around one painting. We were drawn to it, as if in a dream. It was Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Most people recognize it as a famous painting, worth millions. Perhaps they know that this painting inspired the song by DonContinue reading “What Van Gogh Can Teach Us About Writing”
Five Mistakes Writers Make in the First Fifty Pages
The first reaction to this post’s headlines may be: What? Only five? No, I’ve made many more than five mistakes when writing my first fifty pages of my thriller novels. We’ve all heard not to begin a novel with description, dialog or a dream, but here are my most frustrating mistakes: 1. Endlessly rewriting theContinue reading “Five Mistakes Writers Make in the First Fifty Pages”
PAMELA HEGARTY 