Citizen Journalist Duncan Rapemo



There are many different types of creative writing software ranging from coaching tools for writing a novel, to screenplay writing writing software, to proprietary outlining and plotting tools.

I assume, if you're reading this, you're not ready to write with simply your word processor, and are looking beyond that to some helpful resources.

Creative writing software should give a defined writing structure while not limiting creativity. In fact, good writing software fosters the idea, encourages the logic, pushes your intuitive buttons, and guides you by example.

Most helpful, beyond the "plotting tools" and formatting help, are the use of coaching templates. The templates and the outlines in these softwares should inspire good stories. Of course, no creative writer will copy-cat the great stories, but it's helpful to deconstruct them. This is where software such as Dramatica Pro can help, with its extensive library of famous novels and movie scripts plotted out in their software.

Your Capable Assistant

So helpful are these templates, and plotting tools, that even the most creative and abstract of writers should find them to be helpful. Think of them as assistants, not as automated tools. There's nothing automatic about writing.

They assist in the development a good storyline, helping to organize complex ideas, story lines and even character arcs. The better software, like Dramatica Pro, helps you stay on your themes and to manage complicated sub-plots in the story.

Many of these creative writing software programs are designed in such away that they involve questions about plots of the story,…

Citizen Journalist Hampus Flink



Thriller novels combine elements from crime, suspense, horror and mystery. They engage the reader, captivating his attention, turning pages into the small hours of the night. Because of its wide definition, thriller genre authors can mix elements from diverse sources to produce original novels. However, beginner authors often resort to imitation, sometimes unintentionally, resulting in uninteresting manuscripts and rejection letters. The key to writing a compelling thriller is tangled in the web of reality – a reality you must face if you want to write convincingly.



Mystery and intrigue

The unknown is both intriguing and frightening. True fear comes from the realization that our world view will never be complete; that a much larger, frightening world exists beyond the puzzle pieces we have assembled. Secrecy is a central element to thrillers, and authors conventionally hook their readers by never letting them know more than the protagonist. Be careful to divulge information at natural intervals; a resolution delivered in one chunk is hard to digest, and keeping the protagonist in the dark for too long will eventually bore the reader. Skilled writers are able to create suspense by reversing this technique, letting the reader know more than the protagonist; in the climax of Thomas Harris's "The Silence of the Lambs", FBI trainee Clarice Starling finds herself in the home of Jame Gumb – a person unknown to the protagonist, but who the reader knows has murdered and skinned several women.



Sights, sounds and smells

In a thriller, descriptions should increase suspense and immerse the reader in the story. Use words that invoke sensory experiences in the readers – make them see, taste, smell and…

Citizen Journalist Hampus Flink



Have you ever finished penning a compelling murder mystery, complete with drama, suspense and more twists than an Escherian labyrinth, only to find it populated by faceless archetypes? The problem is common for writers of genre fiction, and is usually the result of shallow research. Cops especially seem to become by default either chain-smoking lantern-jaws or MacGuffins in uniforms.  To help your cops become human beings, you should know three things:



1. The difference between private investigators and police detectives The hard-boiled dick popularized by authors like Raymond Chandler has become realistically outdated. Since the 1960s, many states have taken measures to replace the "private detective" moniker with the more modern term "private investigator" to avoid confusion with police detectives. Licensing laws vary between states, meaning people with troubled backgrounds or personal defects may not be eligible for a PI license in some places.



Most importantly, private investigators have no police powers whatsoever, meaning that they would face legal charges for kicking in doors, harassing suspects or throwing haymakers at the gorilla-like bouncer outside the speakeasy. Some states, however, do permit PIs to loiter.  PI Magazine has a helpfulFAQ for information about private investigators>>



2.    Police procedures To make your cop a credible one, you need to know about basic police procedures. Even if you, like most crime fiction writers, are looking to exaggerate story elements for dramatic effect, you…

Review by Citizen Journalist Martin Scurry



Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President made the bestselling lists in the year 2011, and was one of the New York Times notable titles. Although narrative non-fiction, the narrative reads like a thriller, a story revolving around the assassination of President James Garfield.

Candice Millard brings Garfield to life. In this winning portrayal, Garfield is a remarkable person, which makes this all the more a tragedy. He was born indigent but he became the most renowned person in his latter life after being a hero of civil war and revolutionary congress man.

Although not interested in the presidency, he was ultimately elected. He was a honest man who is portrayed as a crusader against the corruption. Everything seemed to be against him after he took office.

After just four months he was shot. The bullet did not immediately kill the president. But the incident moved the country in a catastrophic way. The nation went berserk over the event which, ultimately, help incite a civil war. The president was alive but was not in a position to serve as commander in chief.

 The country got deprived of proper administration and at that time the civil war caused because of the president's assassination attempt became worst. It was even difficult to provide medicinal care for the president because of the uncontrollable condition in the country. Finally the so called scientist Alexander Graham Bell went on helping the president. He rigorously got…

Above: David Copperfield and Uriah Heep. Uriah Heep, famous for his phrase "umble" is a famous example of a secondary character of depth done well. From a 1924 color lithograph.

By Lani Palmer



What separates good ficton from exceptional fiction is often the way the reader feels about the characters. It is not enough for the main character to have depth. The reader must feel that they connect with the other characters as well. No matter how good the narrative or story-telling is, if the readers do not connect with the characters, then they won't connect with the story.



Of course, not every person in a piece of fiction can (or should) have depth. The waiter who brings someone a cup of tea (and plays no other part in the story) does not need depth. In fact, giving depth to such a person will often just confuse the reader as they will be expecting the waiter to play a bigger part later in the story.



It is very easy, when writing narrative, to focus on the depth of the main character, believing that the depth of secondary characters is not important. However, a good secondary character can really turn a great work into a brilliant one. Take Uriah Heep from David Copperfield. Some might say that Uriah Heep, with his frequent use of the word 'umble' (humble) is a more memorable character than David Copperfield, the main character in Charles Dickens' novel. It is also in these secondary characters that humour can be developed, making the story more interesting. It is also here that people can be given unlikeable character traits, that may not be acceptable in the main character.



So how does a writer give a secondary character the kind of depth that makes the reader feel like this is a real person, not…

By Hampus Flink



The mystery seems impenetrable. The cadaver is unidentifiable, burned, dismembered, or maybe liquefied in a ceramic bathtub. The apartment is one of dozens in the vermin-infested building. Blood-shot eyes quiver in door cracks, chains and bolts rattle into place as the police approach. No one is speaking.

Then there is a break in the case, as the detective lifts the veil of traditional police work and opens his forensic third eye. The chemical dissection of the bed sheets yields a few drops of sweat, the killer's DNA is extrapolated, and after a suspenseful chase, the murderer is finally caught–-or is he?

Many writers of crime fiction are interested in the possibilities of forensics. Ever since 1992, when the National Research Council said DNA testing is a reliable method of identifying criminal suspects, forensics has rapidly become a household word. With growing prominence in literature, the mystery author must research forensics carefully to win the trust of his readers. This short guide lists three research tips for the crime novelist, and provides some helpful links to get started.



Avoid the Deus Ex-Machina



Forensic science is not magic. Naturally, any author will exaggerate facts to advance the story or increase suspense, but if you are stuck writing a convoluted plot, be careful not to use forensics as a get-out-of-jail-free card. A climax where the lab technicians establish the identity of the killer by…

By Brinna Blaine



Whether it is a 1500 word short story or a 60,000 word novel, a mystery is nothing without suspense.  Suspense is the element that keeps your reader turning the pages long past the time he swore he'd turn the bedside lamp out and go to bed.   Without suspense, your mystery will fall flat and your reader will look elsewhere for excitement.  So, how do you build suspense in your mystery and create a story that will keep your reader breathlessly waiting for the final scene?

For this, there is not one answer but many.  Learn these techniques to add suspense to your own mysteries.

Start with trouble:  Suspense doesn't have to build up slowly.  It can start with a bang.  Beginning your story with a moment of tension, panic, or trouble lets your reader know he's in for an adventure.  This can be as dramatic as starting the story in the middle of a fight, chase, or other dangerous situation, or as simple as having your protagonist sense that something isn't quite right.



Set the clock:  There's a reason action movies always show the counter on the bomb.  When you add a time limit, the suspense level of a story instantly doubles.   Give your character a deadline for solving the mystery.  Make your time limit as clear as you can.  As the clock counts down, you can be sure your reader will feel every second. …

By Pinky Dalumpines

There are numerous novels on the category of horror or thriller out there. But only a few that really goes down to the most-loved and well-read over the years.

Here are  few thriller/horror novels that  that are also bestsellers of their time. These are surely also the favourite novel of millions of readers in the world. These novels placed their respective authors in the map.



a. The Exorcist - William Peter Blatty

  This is the ultimate horror or thriller novel for me. The novel for me is even more graphic in my imagination compared to the movie. Both just sent me shivering.  The main core of the novel is the process of exorcising a possessed young girl done by a Catholic priest. The fact that this is more or less based on an actual exorcism sends shivers down a young catholic reader's spine. It did bring about nightmares and a few nights in my teens when I wouldn't  turn off the lights before going to sleep.



b. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

This is one classic I don't mind reading all over again. The Frankenstein monster is an emotional thriller that never fails to awaken the reader's imagination. It combines the breath-stopping events that happen as consequences of Dr. Frankenstein's decisions. In the end, the emotional turmoil of the monster leaves the reader to think of the possibilities as well as brings them to the lives of the characters.



c. Dracula - Bram Stoker



Another classic that intrigues the minds of any readers from any generation. The setting in the romantic genre as well as the passion infused in the abominable acts of biting the necks of his victims, turning them into creature of the night, actually makes the novel one of the favorites of all time. The love of…

By Laura Berang

Member Review

One of the best mystery thriller Novels I've read in quite some time is the current release bestseller  Conflict Of Interest by Adam Mitzner. Totally engaging with fabulously complex characters and intensity.

This mystery thriller will have you glued to its pages and anxiously waiting for the new developments.

Alex Miller, the leading character of this Thriller appears, at least on a superficial level, to have the perfect life.  A prosperous job, lovely daughter and beautiful as well as charming wife.  It seems unfathomable that he could want anything more perfect than his current life. Be that as it may, the story unfolds, revealing he has a sense of unease that continuously pervades his life. The developments within this mystery thriller will have you completely and totally riveted at the unexpected turns within the plot.

In most mystery thrillers I have read in the past it was easy to determine the plot of the novel. Additionally, in almost every other mystery thriller determining the characters and the idiosyncrasy  of each was a no brainer. Not so in this bestseller. The twists within this thriller leave you totally mind boggled to say the least. It is impossible to anticipate the next gripping development.

Ludicrously one can think the next enthralling event is known, but in reality the changes in the plot and events will amaze you. The plot gets thicker for Alex when a mysterious character from his youth appears, and he finds himself his legal counsel. Alex finds himself reflecting strongly on his path in life, numerous choices he made and more.

This bestseller depicts humanity itself, in a heart string pull that will grab the reader more than the criminal aspect of the…

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