Thriller 101

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Leslie Conner's Episode
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In this episode, we’re joined by David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst and author of the thrillers The Seventh Floor, Moscow X, and Damascus Station. David brings a wealth of real-world experience into his fiction, and today, we’ll explore how his background as a CIA agent has shaped his writing. You’ll will learn how to blend real-world expertise with gripping fiction, we’ll also dive deep into character development, and master pacing and high-stakes in your opening chapter. If you’re looking to craft stories that feel authentic, compelling, and full of tension, this conversation is for you.

• How to use real-world experience to enhance your thriller writing.
• Writing an opening chapter that readers will love
• Pacing techniques that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

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Alex Kenna's Episode
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In this episode, thriller author Leslie Conner joins us to share expert tips on crafting suspenseful mysteries. She shares valuable resources and an insight into her writing practice that will help writers see how to develop a series!

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Download the One-Page Study of Alex Kenna's Writing
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Elle Grawl's Episode
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Join me for an in-depth author interview with Alex Kenna, the brilliant mind behind What Meets the Eye. This episode is packed with writing tips for aspiring thriller authors, including how to write gripping characters, avoid backstory pitfalls, and use word choice to reveal personality and mood. If you’re passionate about thriller writing, this conversation offers actionable advice you can implement immediately. Don’t miss these insights from an expert storyteller!

What You’ll Learn:

• How intentional word choice reveals character personality and mood.
• Why intriguing lines can replace heavy backstory to keep readers hooked
• The importance of setting up character goals early in your story.

Actionable Tip:
This week, experiment with introducing a new character using Alex’s techniques. Write one paragraph that:

1. Reflects their personality through word choice.
2. Hints at their backstory without giving too much away.
3. Clearly shows what they’re striving for.

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

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Storyteller's Society Waitlist
Learn more about Elle


In this episode, I talk with Elle Grawl, author of the psychological thrillers One of Those Faces and What Still Burns. Elle shares how she wrote her debut novel while balancing a demanding day job, how her writing process has evolved, and her best advice for writers navigating pacing and productivity challenges.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Elle finished her debut novel while working full-time.
• The importance of pacing in thrillers and mysteries and how to refine it.
• Tips for evolving your writing process as life and creative needs change.
• Why experimenting with different methods can reignite your creativity.

Actionable Tip:

Take a moment to evaluate your current writing process. Is it still working for you? Try incorporating one new technique this week—whether it’s experimenting with drafting out of order, bullet-pointing your next few chapters, or carving out time during your lunch break to write. See how it feels and adjust as needed. Flexibility is key to keeping your momentum!

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

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Previous episode with Aaron Philip Clark
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Bestselling thriller author, J.T. Ellison shares how she create the unforgettable twists and characters that define her work. 

Whether you're an aspiring writer or an experienced author, this episode is packed with actionable writing tips, insider insights, and inspiration from one of the best in the genre.

1. How to create plot twists that are surprising yet inevitable and avoid “cheat” endings.
2. J.T. Ellison’s process for juggling multiple points of view in thriller writing.
3. The importance of trusting your subconscious and revisiting earlier sections of your story for foreshadowing opportunities.

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

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Download the 50 editing mistakes authors make as shared by an editor for Lake Union Publishing!

In this episode, Aaron Philip Clark shares invaluable writing tips on crafting compelling characters, weaving meaningful themes into your stories, and making your thrillers stand out in today’s market.

If you’re an aspiring or experienced author looking for actionable advice on character development, plot construction, and building deeper layers into your writing, this episode is for you. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to incorporate meaningful themes into your thrillers and mysteries to create stories that resonate with readers on a deeper level.
• Actionable advice for developing rich, multi-dimensional characters who feel authentic and drive your story forward.
• Insights into Aaron Philip Clark’s writing process and career journey, including lessons he’s learned about storytelling and publishing.

Here's the episode with Carla Conti
Find out more about Aaron HERE

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

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Download the 50 editing mistakes authors make as shared by an editor for Lake Union Publishing!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Using Documentation to Enhance Authenticity
• Setting Deadlines for Momentum
• How to Know When a Story Is Ready

Find out more about Carla HERE

Carla Conti is a true crime journalist, storyteller, and prison reform advocate who previously covered the police beat and criminal courts as a newspaper reporter in the Midwest and Northeast. In 2011, she was asked to write about federal inmate Kevin Sanders, who was incarcerated inside the brutal, torturous conditions of Pennsylvania’s Lewisburg Prison. Carla then became part of the legal team that defended Kevin against unjust assault charges and remained his advocate and friend on the outside ever since.

Because of her exclusive access to Kevin’s first-person accounts, she knows the stories that led to the 2018 shutdown of USP Lewisburg’s Special Management Unit, one of the bloodiest experimental prison programs in the country. For a decade, Carla followed Kevin’s journey inside various federal prisons to write an exposé on the world of prison abuse, corruption, and violent prison gangs he experienced. However, she became imperiled by association after two separate prison gangs tried to kill Kevin and learned she was writing a tell-all book about his case.

You can read more about Carla on her Author Profile pages at Amazon, Bookbub, and Goodreads, where you can also ask her questions via the Goodreads forum.

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

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Learn more about the Storyteller's Society

Listen to the episode with Stacy Frazer

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

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Learn more about the Storyteller's Society

Listen to the episode with Anne Brooks

Learn more about Stacy Frazer
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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

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Learn more about the Storyteller's Society

Learn more about Anne Brooks

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