The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Thriller story.

Introduction: What is a Thrilling Horror Story and Why Should You Read One?

A thrilling story is a story that has the reader on the edge of their seat. It's a story with suspense and mystery. A story that will make you wonder what will happen next and if the protagonist will survive. A horror story is a type of thriller that often involves supernatural, paranormal, or otherwise frightening events that create feelings of fear, dread, and unease in the reader.

The best way to get started with reading thrilling horror stories is to pick up an anthology or choose one from this list:

1) The Best Horror Stories Ever Told by Stephen King

2) The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror edited by Stephen Jones

3) The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror edited by Paula Guran

4) The Living Dead edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector

What to remember while writing an amazing yet scary horror story.

The best horror stories are not just scary. They should also be well-written, with realistic characters and a compelling plot. Horror writers should make their readers feel emotions such as fear, disgust, and unease. They also need to have a good understanding of human psychology to know how to scare people in the most effective way. Writers can use many different techniques to create an atmosphere of suspense and dread in their story, such as foreshadowing events or using metaphors that will make the reader feel uneasy.

How to write a thriller in 5 steps

Although there isn't a guaranteed formula for writing a good thriller (if there were, everyone would do it), there are steps you can take to make sure your book checks off all the proper boxes. This is our suggestion for writing a thriller based on input from our network of editors.

1. Give your characters and their intentions some life.

Thriller characters are frequently nuanced. The good guy might not be the perfect citizen, and the bad guy might believe everything they do is righteous, at least in their own eyes.

Give each character a distinct motivation because the rivalry between these conflicting forces will spark the action that will advance your story. Think about it:

Why do people behave in this way?

What is their main objective?

Does the hero need to defend themselves or someone else?

How do they respond when faced with difficulty?

2. Begin with action.

In any book, the opening scene is crucial. It's especially important in thrillers because you need to start with action right away. Starting in media res is frequently a good way to accomplish this. Avoid a "info dump," in which you include too many irrelevant background details.

You don't have to start with a murder — in fact, in some thrillers, there isn't one at all, or it doesn't happen until halfway through the novel — but you do have to start with something exciting that propels the protagonist forward.

In the first chapter of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity, someone on a boat falls into the Mediterranean after being shot — we don't know who and why He is eventually rescued by a strange priest, and we learn that he has amnesia. Before being thrust into a life-threatening situation, the reader knows almost nothing about the characters or the plot of the book.

3. Describe the protagonist's struggle with their antagonist, but don't let them win too easily.

A protagonist's strongest attribute is their ability to find a way around their antagonist even when the odds are stacked against them. If your protagonist feels like there is no way out, you have not done your job as an author.

4. Bring on the surprises.

Thrillers, as we've seen, are mostly driven by plot developments, and the greatest method to keep readers interested in the narrative is by adding twists and unexpected developments. Twists may have the opposite impact, so it's easier to say than to do. So, Anne Brewer advises asking yourself the following questions if you're unsure whether your twist will be sufficient to keep the tale moving:

Is my main character acting as proactively as they can or just letting things happen?

Does this turn have all the potential to be thrilling?

How "big" do you feel the twist is?

What may now occur to my protagonist that would be the worst-case scenario?

5. Give your tale a suitable conclusion.

Keep in mind the sort of tale you've been telling thus far and make sure the finish fits properly. A satisfactory ending isn't necessarily a "happily ever after."

You might wish to fully tie up all the loose ends and provide comprehensive answers in some circumstances. You might also leave it with an open ending, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. A cliffhanger can be the best approach to keep people interested if you want to publish a series of novels. Whatever conclusion you choose, keep in mind that it's always important to finish the present task in order to feel satisfied at the story.