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How to Write Killer Fiction

Customer Rating:

I'm finally getting around to reading this book because I have a project in mind. Mystery seems like a very complex genre to write and this book serves as a great guide. Not only does the author go through how to write Mystery and Suspense, but she explains the differences between the two and between the sub genres. Throughout the book she also uses examples from specific authors and their novels to help illustrate what she's saying. And it would probably be a very good idea for a new mystery writer to read at least a few of these books. The author explains everything very thoroughly and gives the reader a good foundation from which to start writing. It's a wonderful book with tons of solid and useful information. I'm glad I have it and wish I'd gotten around to reading it sooner.

Wonderful Analysis, Helpful Guide	Customer Rating:
I can't say enough about how readable and insightful this book is! Carolyn Wheat covers all aspects of plotting, characterization and fine writing, and it is a book I will be returning to again and again.

Great Desk Reference

Customer Rating:

The first chapter of descriptions and comparisons between mystery and suspense was a little redundent in places. I've only got through the mystery half because that is what I've been having trouble with. If you're not a regular mystery reader and need to add mystery without spending time analysing the greats, this is the book you need. If you are already an experience mystery reader/writer and need more suspense, I'd bet the suspense half would be equally as good. Mystery and suspense are the bones of a plot line and genre/characterization is the setting and the meat of the story.

A lot of BANG for your buck!

Customer Rating:

I love this book! If you have a small budget and know that you want to write mystery or suspense novels, this is THE writing instruction book for you. It is a concise 191 pages (even has an index!), but it is filled with useful information. This is not a book that focuses on how to write better sentences or prose: there are other books for that. This is a book on plot structure that even seasoned writers would find useful to help strengthen their stories: a nice summation of the key elements to consider when constructing the plot. Some writing books are so large, it'd take a decade to fully digest and utilize the information: This book will get you up and surging forward right away. There are even checklists to keep you on track as few of us can keep numerous facts in mind simultaneously. The first section focuses on the mystery novel. The second, on the suspense/thriller. The last third is on the general aspects of the novel and getting published, which is not as useful as the first two sections. Ms. Wheat uses numerous examples from published novels to demonstrate the plot techniques she outlines. I am excited to discover this book, as I am certain my next novel will have a stronger ending from studying the suspense techniques she outlines. Ms. Wheat's guidelines will not stifle your creativity; instead, it will help channel your idea to it's maximum effectiveness. You really get a lot of bang for your buck. I would buy this, not get it from the library. It is well laid-out, with useful bold headings. You will want to keep it at your side when you plot your future blockbuster. Sworn to Defend.

An absolute keeper

Customer Rating:

The title hooked me, and it just got better after that. As a writer of fiction, I have a stack of "how-to" books on my shelf, some of which have been helpful, others not so much. But this one has the clearest explanation of such things as story arc, the novel styled as a classic myth, how to (and how not to) handle an ending. Better yet, not only is the book filled with excellent information, it's written in an entertaining style. And the examples that Ms. Wheat uses are from books that most of us have read and authors most of us recognize--not pages and pages of dry-as-dust "classic" novels. If you like to read suspense and/or mystery (and she makes the distinction clear in the first chapter), this book will make your reading more pleasurable as you begin to appreciate the things your favorite author does. And if you want to write in those genres, hurry to order the book, then commit it to memory.