Thriller 101

Writing a Complex Mystery Novel with Bianca Marais


Listen Later

Send me a Text Message!

What if the secret to writing unforgettable characters isn't interrogating them with questionnaires, but letting them reveal themselves organically? 

In this episode, bestselling author Bianca Marais shares how she "pantsed" her way through writing her newest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder

It’s especially impressive because this novel is a complex mystery with 12+ POVs, choose-your-own-adventure chapters, interactive puzzles, and a character who emails readers back. 

If you've ever wondered how to build three-dimensional characters that feel alive, balance ambitious storytelling mechanics without losing narrative control then this conversation is perfect for you! 

Bianca reveals the unique writing techniques that allowed her to juggle multiple perspectives while maintaining emotional depth, and why giving up control might be the key to unlocking your best work.

Bianca's Instagram

Bianca's Website

  1. The Art of Dual POV & Crafting Psychological Thrillers with Liz Alterman
  2. Writing Character Backstory with Author Liz Alterman
  3. Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry

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


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Thriller 101By David

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

25 ratings


More shows like Thriller 101

View all
Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

Writing Excuses

1,292 Listeners

Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

Helping Writers Become Authors

1,009 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

624 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

223 Listeners

Meet the Thriller Author (Author Interviews) by Alan Petersen

Meet the Thriller Author (Author Interviews)

36 Listeners

Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

Writer's Routine

311 Listeners

Sarah's Bookshelves Live by Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves

Sarah's Bookshelves Live

776 Listeners

Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors by J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle

Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors

54 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,464 Listeners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

773 Listeners

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

360 Listeners

Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

Writers on Writing

89 Listeners

The Whole Writer by Nicole Meier

The Whole Writer

45 Listeners

Flublishing by Flublishing

Flublishing

10 Listeners

PLOT TWIST by Soman Chainani and Victoria Aveyard

PLOT TWIST

46 Listeners