Have you ever read a book where you just had to find out what happened next? You turn the page over and over, and all you can think of is: What happens next? Then that book might have been a thriller.
A thriller is the sort of genre of literature that makes your pulse jump. The writer in you might be wondering, “How do I get that effect on my readers?” I am glad to tell you there are some simple methods to write a thriller story, and in this guide, we will explore what a thriller is and how you can write one.
What Is a Thriller?
A thriller is a suspense-filled story. It places characters in situations that can be perceived as dangerous. It contains uncertainty that leads to constant tension, unlike other genres, such as mystery, which focuses on solving a puzzle. Thriller highlights the experience of danger and anticipation. The audience does not just want answers. They want the rush of waiting for an answer to come.
Imagine it, the long walk from one end of a dark corridor to a door. How the characters walk slowly as they guess what awaits them on the other side. Dust is thick in the air, and random drops of water are dripping on it. With each step they take, the door appears to recede further away.
Types of Thriller
Thrillers come in many flavours; the one you choose shapes your story style and what types of readers you will attract if you ever wish to publish. Furthermore, determining the subgenre you are leaning towards early gives you a sense of direction.
Here are some of the most common subgenres:
Psychological thriller: Explore fear, doubt, and paranoia. Utilize elements such as unreliable narrators and manipulation.
Criminal thriller: Centers around criminals, detectives, and investigators. Clues are scattered around on the page, and everyone is a possible suspect.
Action thriller: It is confrontational and explosive. It is all about the chase and the narrow escapes.
Political thriller: it has conspiracy theories and power plays. It has power struggles at the highest level.
Techno-thriller: use science, technology, and futuristic concepts to drive the plot.
Supernatural thriller: It contains paranormal elements and often blurs the line between terror and awe.
The 3Cs of a Thriller
You may have heard about the 3Cs. Dan Brown, author of bestsellers like The Da Vinci Code, explains that a thriller can be broken down into three core elements, often referred to as the 3Cs.
Contract: It is the promise that your story will deliver what is at stake to the readers. When your readers open the book, you are telling them, “This is what the story is about and here is why it matters.”
If your story starts with a kidnapping, then your contract is that the story will resolve the kidnapping. Your story must resolve the main conflict for a satisfying ending. If you wish to leave room for mystery, you can instead create more questions around the plot to continue the story.
Clock: The constantly ticking clock. Nothing builds suspense like the ticking of time. The clock creates urgency. It limits the protagonist’s abilities. The clock forces your characters to react, to take action, and readers can feel the pressure.
The clock can, for example, be a character who has to get an EpiPen to their friend in time. It can also be that a character must reveal the truth to another character before they hear it from someone else.
Crucible: You have to keep your protagonist trapped in their struggles. Raise the stakes, make it more meaningful. It ensures they cannot simply walk away when things get difficult. They will solve it not because they should, but rather because they have to. The crucible keeps the story alive and gives readers a reason to root for the protagonist.
For example, a parent cannot give up the search for their child because they might still be alive. A politician has to do a good job because their reputation is on the line.
Core Ingredients of a Gripping Thriller Story
Every author has their own way to craft a story. More importantly, there is no right way to learn how to write a thriller story. Despite that fact, there are recurring elements in a gripping thriller novel.
Some of them are:
Relatable protagonist: Readers do not connect with a protagonist because they are perfect. They connect because they see themselves in the protagonist. Even if the readers do not see themselves in the protagonist, they should be able to sympathize with them.
An antagonist worth fearing: The “villain” should feel insurmountable. A great villain can be unpredictable and have strong motives. They can also be the opposite. It all depends on how you decide to weaponize their traits.
Growing stakes: The stakes should go from feeling personal to global. It should feel enormous and unbearable for the protagonist. It should even make the readers wonder, “How will they get out of this one?”
Time pressure: Time is always running out. There is always a deadline, and it keeps narrowing. It is a closing window that the protagonist has to slide out of.
Misdirection: Keep the audience on edge. Throw in red herrings, shifting priorities, and alliances. It is how the characters are always second-guessing themselves that makes it more emotionally unbearable.
Writing Tips to Keep Readers Hooked
Pay attention to these tips if you struggle with keeping momentum in your thriller story.
Start with conflict: Open the scene with tension. With something feeling off, even if it is a small detail. A thriller is rarely peaceful. Therefore, try to capture that feeling.
End with a shift: The beginning and the end of a chapter should never feel the same. The protagonist should have made a decision, taken an action, or learned something new.
Layer suspense: In addition to the main conflict, include smaller conflicts within. Whether it is scene-related or character-related. For example, the main conflict is, “Who will win the election?” A smaller conflict can be, “Will they approve of the paper?”
Ready to Start Writing?
Writing a thriller is just like writing anything else. Trials and errors. Consider what we learned today: There are different kinds of thrillers, and which one you should write depends on what you want. Dan Brown’s 3Cs method is a great way to outline and be on track when writing a thriller story. The recurring elements in a thriller are not to be overlooked either. In addition to writing tips that can make your story better.
If you were wondering how to write a thriller story, then you have read the right guide. If you want to write a thriller story, I would say get started.
