Thriller 101

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Debut author Marisa Walz joins the show to talk about her psychological suspense novel Good Intentions. It's story about obsession, grief, and moral ambiguity that kept her up all night plotting after a single book inspired her to finally write it. 
Marisa shares: 
What the publishing journey really looks like
How she balances writing unlikable protagonists
The unexpected challenges that come after you finally land that book deal
Bio: Marisa Walz is the author of Good Intentions, her debut psychological suspense novel. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and two young children.
Learn more about Marisa here: https://www.marisawalz.com/
Connect with Marisa here: https://www.instagram.com/marisacwalz/

Episodes I think You'll Love: 
150 Writing a Complex Mystery Novel with Bianca Marais
What Editors Really Want Right Now with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Who Provides a Sneak Peek Inside Simon & Schuster's Newest Imprint
141 Literary Agent Vicky Weber on Why Most Writers Aren't Agent-Ready (And How to Fix It)
Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction
Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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What if the secret to writing unforgettable characters isn't interrogating them with questionnaires, but letting them reveal themselves organically? 
In this episode, bestselling author Bianca Marais shares how she "pantsed" her way through writing her newest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder. 
It’s especially impressive because this novel is a complex mystery with 12+ POVs, choose-your-own-adventure chapters, interactive puzzles, and a character who emails readers back. 
If you've ever wondered how to build three-dimensional characters that feel alive, balance ambitious storytelling mechanics without losing narrative control then this conversation is perfect for you! 
Bianca reveals the unique writing techniques that allowed her to juggle multiple perspectives while maintaining emotional depth, and why giving up control might be the key to unlocking your best work.
Bianca's Instagram
Bianca's Website
The Art of Dual POV & Crafting Psychological Thrillers with Liz Alterman

Writing Character Backstory with Author Liz Alterman

Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction
Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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New York Times bestselling author Chevy Stevens pulls back the curtain on what separates a good thriller from an unforgettable one. 
And it might not be what you think. 
In this episode, Chevy reveals her unconventional process for crafting antagonists that readers love to hate. 
She also shares the exact mindset shift that helped her sustain an eight-book career.
If you are... 
struggling to create believable villains
feeling stuck in your thriller's plot
wondering how to build a lasting writing career in today's market
This conversation will give you the tools to break through. 
What Listeners Will Learn:
• How to create antagonists that traditional publishers love
• The "enough juice" test for evaluating thriller concepts
• Why your second book matters more than your first
Connect with Chevy:
Website
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Chevy Stevens lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she isn’t working on her next book, she’s spending time with her family and their two dogs. Her books, including Still Missing, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, have been published in more than thirty countries.
Episodes I think You'll Love:
Author Liz Alterman Reveals Her Weekly Writing Ritual That Transforms First Drafts Into Gold And How to Know When Your Story Idea Is Worth Writing

Literary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Fix Your Opening Pages 

Literary Agent Jessica Berg Shares How to Catch an Agent's Eye

How to Write an Opening Chapter that Keeps Readers Reading with Author David McCloskey

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction
Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Struggling with how to write a thriller that grabs readers immediately? 
In this interview, writing expert Daniel David Wallace shares game-changing writing tips for crafting plots that keep readers hooked from page one. 
Daniel, creator of the Character First Writing Approach and host of Escape the Plot Forest summit, reveals why traditional plotting advice often fails thriller writers.
And he offers three essential strategies for developing compelling, character-driven narratives. 
Whether you're working on your first manuscript or polishing a novel for traditional publishing, these writing techniques will help you avoid the common pitfalls that cause readers to abandon your story. 
Learn how to create protagonists with immediate momentum, maintain emotional connection through plot twists, and structure midpoints that trap both your characters and your readers in the story.
Learn more about Daniel here...
Daniel David Wallace is the host of Escape the Plot Forest, an annual online conference for writers. He spent four years of a PhD researching new ways to help writers tell a great story.
His stories, reviews, and essays have been published in great magazines like Tampa Review, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Air Schooner, and his writing has won him awards like the Toni Brown scholarship and the Hodges prizes.
Daniel designed a way of teaching plot, the "character-first" approach that aims to return writers to their original love of storytelling (because it teaches you to write according to how your ideal readers will experience your book).
This approach has resonated with so many people: more than 13,000 writers read his newsletter each week.

Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry

First Page Formula: Author and Writing Coach April Davila on What Agents & Readers Want to See in Your Thriller Manuscript Opening

How to Edit Your Own Writing with Author & Editor Chantelle Aimée Osman

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction
Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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What if the setting you choose could be as morally complex as your protagonist? 
In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Aaron Philip Clark pulls back the curtain on how he crafts crime fiction that thrills and matters. 
Aaron reveals:
his process for weaving heavy themes into page-turners without slowing the pace
why he writes from a place of frustration and injustice
how to make every setting choice deliberate and loaded with meaning. 
If you're tired of writing surface-level thrillers or struggling to add depth without killing your momentum, this conversation will change how you approach your craft. 
Aaron's insights on creating "literary humans" instead of plot devices alone are worth the listen, but his framework for balancing suspense with substance is something I personally will be implementing in my work.
https://www.aaronphilipclark.com/
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Episodes I think you'll love...
How to Develop Characters and Themes with Author Aaron Philip Clark
Writing Action Scenes with Author Aaron Philip Clark
Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry
First Page Formula: Author and Writing Coach April Davila on What Agents & Readers Want to See in Your Thriller Manuscript Opening
Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction
Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now