Thriller 101

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5 Minute Writer
Article
Last week's interview with Liz Alterman
Johnny's Website
Connect with Johnny on Twitter
Connect with David on Twitter

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS

1. Perfecting your dialogue
2. Developing an editing outline
3. Finding your unique idea

EPISODE INFO:
It’s sometimes hard to notice when you’re reading great dialogue because you end up so sucked into the story that pages and pages go by and you’re just barreling through the story. 

All of a sudden you look up and think to yourself, “Wait, how did that author just do that?” 

Today’s guest is going to spill all his dialogue secrets. 

BIO:
Johnny Compton’s (he/him) short stories have appeared in Pseudopod, Strange Horizons, The No Sleep Podcast and many other markets. He is an HWA member and creator and host of the podcast Healthy Fears. His debut novel, THE SPITE HOUSE is out now!

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5 Minute Writer
Article
Liz's Website
Connect with Liz on Twitter
Connect with David on Twitter

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS

1. Character backstory
2. How to find the right community
3. Finding an agent

EPISODE INFO:
The dreaded backstory. 

How much to use? How much to cut out? Are you building character or are you boring readers? 

My guest today is going to help us!

Liz Alterman is an absolute master at developing characters. She is the author of a domestic suspense novel, The Perfect Neighborhood, a young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting, and a memoir, Sad Sacked. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney’s, and other outlets.

I learned so much about writing by reading her novel The Perfect Neighborhood and by picking her brain about building characters. 

Liz shares how she started writing, why she writes thrillers, and-most importantly-how she writes them. 

We talk about strategic backstory and using it enough to build a character, but not so much as to bore a reader. 

There’s a sweet spot you have to hit. Let’s find out what that sweet spot is!

BIO:
Liz Alterman is the author of a domestic suspense novel, The Perfect Neighborhood, a young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting, and a memoir, Sad Sacked. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney’s, and other outlets. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three sons, and two cats, and spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading.

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5 Minute Writer
Elle Grawl Interview

Interviews referenced in this episode:
Editor: Chantelle Aimeé Osman
Literary Agent: Amy Elizabeth Bishop
Literary Agent: Emmy Norstrom Higdon
Author: Rob Hart
Author: Josh Stallings

Subscribe for Aaron Philip Clark & Ausma Zehanat Khan (Coming in Feburary!)

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5 Minute Writer
Article
Elle's Website
Connect with Elle on Twitter
Connect with David on Twitter

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS

1. Agent author relationship
2. Editing your manuscript
3. Using your life experiences to influence your fiction

EPISODE INFO:
Are you wondering what happens after you sign with an agent? Will you go through edits? What will that relationship be like? Today’s guest is going to tell us what to expect when we enter into that important relationship.

Today’s guest is debut author Elle Grawl. She is a lawyer, professor, and author of psychological thrillers One of Those Faces (out now) and What Still Burns (coming Aug. 2023).

In this episode, I asked Elle all about her querying process, as well as what happened after she signed with her agent. It’s a really interesting part of the process that we don’t hear about too much and I thought it was so interesting. 

BIO:
Elle Grawl is a lawyer by day and writer by night. After obtaining her B.A. in English Literature, she took a detour into law before returning to her love of writing. 

Her lifelong interest in true crime and experiences as an attorney have provided her with plenty of writing material. Elle enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their two dogs. 

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5 Minute Writer
Article
The Jordy Albert Literary Agency
Connect with Helen on Twitter
Connect with David on Twitter

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS

1. What are agents looking for in an author?
2. How to approach the querying process
3. The state of the publishing industry

EPISODE INFO:
If you want to land an agent in 2023, you’re going to love this conversation with my guest today.

Today’s guest, Helen Lane, is relatively new to this whole agenting thing. She has amazing insights on what it takes to get signed by an agent in 2023!

How many queries do agents get? What are they looking for? How are they organizing the workload? All this and more.

And as a bonus, she even shares what she’ll be looking for when she reopens this year! So let’s get into the interview!b

BIO:
Helen Lane started at The Booker Albert Literary Agency as an intern/ assistant having previously interned for other leading agencies. She is a writer of YA and Adult Fantasy. She has a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia and a postgrad qualification in Acoustics. She is passionate about books and has spent the last decade working with manuscripts. She lives in London with her family and the world’s naughtiest cocker spaniel.  

Helen is actively building her list and represents YA, NA, and Adult.

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5 Minute Writer
Catherine McKenzie Interview
Katherine Ramsland Interview

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5 Minute Writer
Article
Catherine's Website
Connect with Catherine on Twitter
Connect with David on Twitter

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS

1. Getting and implementing feedback that keeps your story
2. Importance of surrounding yourself with people you trust
3. Planning for your debut now

EPISODE INFO:
Have you wondered what project you should be taking on? Do you have multiple works in progress rolling around in your head (or on your computer)? You’re not alone. 

As writers it feels like we face so much rejection that we start to second guess ourselves. What’s going to sell? What’s going to land you an agent? 

In the end, you already know which project you need to be working on. But let’s have my guest today tell you why you already know!

BIO:
Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill in History and Law, Catherine practiced law for twenty years before leaving the practice to write full time. An avid runner, skier and tennis player, she’s the author of numerous bestsellers including HIDDEN, FRACTURED, THE GOOD LIAR and I’LL NEVER TELL. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and PLEASE JOIN US and I’LL NEVER TELL have all been optioned for development into television series.

Her next novel, HAVE YOU SEEN HER, is releasing on June 27, 2023!

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Happy New Year! I know I've been sporadic about publishing during the last few months. So I wanted to explain WHY and then make a New Year's resolution that pertains to you. 

But first I want to just say thank you. You've all been amazing about supporting me. 

You've connected with me on Twitter. You've rated and reviewed the podcast and recommended it to writing friends. I can't thank you enough for all that.

But what today is about is about 2023 and what that holds for Writerly Lifestyle. This one is going to be short and to the point!

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17 Things to Think About When Talking to an Agent/Publisher
Article
Jessica's Website
First Interview with Jessica
Interview with Katherine Ramsland
Interview with Bryan Young
Connect with Jessica on Twitter
Connect with David on Twitter

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS

1. Getting and implementing feedback that keeps your story
2. Importance of surrounding yourself with people you trust
3. Planning for your debut now

EPISODE INFO:
What should you be doing NOW to have a successful debut launch? Jessica Payne helps us understand the ins-and-outs of preparing for a writing career.

Are you wondering what you can be doing right now to launch a successful debut book? Whether you’re agented or not, even if you’re just querying or even still editing or drafting. 

I asked Jessica Payne this exact question. After successfully launching her career with her debut novel MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, then following it up with another great launch of yet another fantastic thriller THE LUCKY ONE. 

Jessica knows a thing or two about what you can do NOW so that your launch goes smoothly even if it’s months or years from now.

Last time on the podcast I talked to Bryan Young who shares how he finds readers for his fiction through his other interests. 

It’s a great pairing for this episode with Jessica Payne. So if you liked this and want to learn more about what you can do to plan for your writing career, definitely check that episode out.

BIO:
Jessica grew up in Kansas City, later moving to the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound became home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. She is also an RN. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube.

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Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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5 Minute Writer
Article
Connect with Bryan on Twitter

Last week on the interview series I talked to author, Katherine Ramsland. She shared how to turn the true stories we hear into fiction.

First Interview with Jessica Payne. (Be sure to subscribe for new Jessica Payne interview in the coming weeks!)

3 BIG TAKEAWAYS 

1. Using nonfiction to build a community
2. How to find writing opportunities
3. Writing what you love

BIO
Bryan Young (he/they) works across many different media. His work as a writer and producer has been called "filmmaking gold" by The New York Times. He's also published comic books with Slave Labor Graphics and Image Comics. He's been a regular contributor for the Huffington Post, StarWars.com, Star Wars Insider magazine, SYFY, /Film, and was the founder and editor in chief of the geek news and review site Big Shiny Robot! IN 2014, he wrote the critically acclaimed history book, A Children’s Illustrated History of Presidential Assassination. He co-authored Robotech: The Macross Saga RPG has written two books in the BattleTech Universe: Honor's Gauntlet and A Question of Survival. He teaches writing for Writer’s Digest, Script Magazine, and at the University of Utah. Follow him on Twitter @swankmotron.

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