Friday, 18 June 2010

Guest Post: John Baird - Why I Write Crime Thrillers?

Crime thrillers allow me to explore human emotions at their extremes, whilst writing about what interests me, such as, love, death, betrayal, vengeance, the pursuit, and the pursued. By placing an ‘everyman character’ (one that people can identify with) in a criminal world, I invite the reader to experience a dangerous journey from the safety of their imagination.    

There is an old adage that you should write what you know. I prefer to say, you should write about what interests you. It follows then, that you should write in the genre that you most often read. My enjoyment of fast-paced, plot-driven, American crime thrillers inspired my desire to write and influenced my style.  

Over time, my reading developed a familiarity with a structure that would enable me to entertain and excite to maximum effect. In a vague chronological order:

  1. An event/action that poses Intriguing questions.
  2. The presence of obstacles or Conflict.
  3. Chapter ending - what next? - Hooks.
  4. Gripping Suspense.
  5. Unexpected revelations and Twists.
  6. More conflict - pile on the pressure to an enthralling Climax.
  7. A surprise Resolution.

The key to keeping the pages turning is the need to know; what happens next? This need is why I read and write thrillers.

John Baird, author of Chasing Shadows, coming to America in the summer of 2010.

Website: www.johnbairdauthor.com

Blog: johnbairdauthor.blogspot.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/JohnBairdAuthor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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5 comments:

  1. Dolly18 June 2010 at 14:51

    Thanks very much for bringing a whole new genre into this series, John :-)

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  2. Jamie D.18 June 2010 at 22:40

    So you write them for the same reasons you read them...and the same reason I read them too. Great post - and now I have a new author to add to my "to read" list. :-)

    Thanks Dolly, and good to "meet" you, John!

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  3. erica m. chapman20 June 2010 at 23:32

    Great post! I love to read Crime Thrillers too ;o) Great genre. I love the list, it could apply to any genre ;o)

    Well done ;o)

    Thanks Dolly, another great one!

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  4. C R Ward21 June 2010 at 18:21

    Wonderful post! I think your list is great and I agree with Erica, it could apply to any genre. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for your book!

    Thanks for posting, John, and thank you, Dolly, for inviting him!

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  5. Trulyana22 June 2010 at 15:41

    Excellent guest post. Interestingly I used to read a lot of crime thrillers as a youngster too, and I could relate a lot to them. Well done in highlighting the importance of writing what interests you, and how the flow does it's own thing and allowing it to come out on it's own. That's the joy in writing, just seeing where it leads. :)

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