Lately it seems I’ve been asked asked to write on the
secrets of writing suspense. As I started thinking about it, I decided there
weren’t really any secrets, just different ways of doing things. I know
different authors have different way of writing. We’re all individuals. What
works for one writer may not work for another.
I’m a SOTP writer. Meaning, SEAT OF THE PANTS. I write what
comes to me. I write in sequential order and I edit as I go. If I get a
brilliant idea halfway through the manuscript, I go back and add, but basically
by the time I get done with the story, I’m done. However, that’s not to say
that I don’t do some very basic plotting. And I think this is because I
approach writing a story like doing a puzzle.
Step 1: Sort out all of the side pieces and frame your
puzzle – This is the brief synopsis stage. A short summary of how I want the
story to go. There are not any real
details here, but I have a beginning, a few scenes for the middle and the way
the story will end.
Step 2: Find the dominant color and put all of the pieces together
in one section - Here is where I do my character
development. Even though I’m a SOTP writer, I really need to know my characters
before I can write anything worth keeping. I have a character worksheet I start
filling in. Details are important here, like family, best friends, educational
backgrounds, biggest fear, biggest secret, love interest, even what’s in the
wallet or the purse.
Step 3: Find where the dominant color belongs in the puzzle
and place in the approximate section within the frame. The few scenes I’ve
sketched out need to go in the right place. I do use a writing software called
Scrivener. It helps me keep my scenes organized. I love the ability to jot down
an idea and store it later. When I come back to the software, I can move the
scenes around to see which order works best—where they best fit into the
puzzle—er story.
Step 4: Start filling in the gaps. At this point, I have a pretty good outline
of the story. Now I just need to go through one last time and make sure I’ve put
in all the details, all the red herrings, explained all of the clues and not
left anything dangling. Now, here is a little tip: As I’m writing the story,
I’ve got to keep all this “stuff” in my head. However, there are times when I’m
going along that I’ll come to a stop because I need to research something, or I
can’t remember the name of a certain character, or what time of day it is.
Whatever the detail is that I need to put in, I simply stop writing, insert a
comment at that point using track changes and then later, go through all of the
comments I made and insert the necessary information.
Step 5: The last piece of the puzzle = the last read
through. Go through the whole story cleaning it up and doing one last edit. By
the time you get to the end, you should be done.
So, as you see, writing suspense isn’t so much about secrets
as it is about hard work and paying attention to details, taking your time and
being creative. Putting the puzzle together one piece at a time until you have
the big picture.
She is
the author of ten Inspirational Romantic Suspense books, two of which finaled
in the Maggies Contest and one was nominated for Reviewer’s Choice Best Series
Romance Novel of the year for the Love Inspired Suspense line. She writes for
the Love Inspired Suspense line and Revell. Her newest book, When the Smoke Clears, released this month.
Connect with Lynette through her website and through her Ladies of Suspense blog.
