How to Write a Damn Good Thriller

The villain is your best friend, because the villain creates the plot behind the plot—the plot that has to be foiled by the hero—and that, my friend, is what thriller writing is all about.

The villain is your best friend, because the villain creates the plot behind the plot—the plot that has to be foiled by the hero—and that, my friend, is what thriller writing is all about. Villain profile. A compelling villain should fit a specific profile: Powerful and influential Motivated by base desires (greed, revenge, ambition) Often psychopathic or psychotic Self-centered, narcissistic, and vain Coldhearted, merciless, and ruthless Determined, cunning, and clever Seemingly unstoppable and relentless To create your villain: Develop a detailed backstory (physiology, sociology, psychology) Give them a dark mission that drives the plot Write in their voice through journals or diaries Ensure they fit the villain profile while remaining unique Remember, the villain's actions and motivations are the engine of your thriller's plot. Their dark mission creates the conflict that your hero must overcome.

Heroes are courageous. In comic thrillers sometimes they aren't, but in almost all other types of thrillers they are as courageous as a canonball. Hero profile. A compelling thriller hero should possess: Courage in the face of danger Expertise in their profession A special talent or skill Cleverness and resourcefulness A wound or vulnerability An outlaw quality (making their own rules) Self-sacrificing nature for others Developing your hero: Create a detailed backstory, including their wound Give them a special talent that sets them apart Ensure they're clever and resourceful in overcoming obstacles Make them self-sacrificing, willing to risk everything for others Consider giving them a flaw or vulnerability to make them relatable Remember, your hero doesn't need to be likable or good, but they should be compelling and someone the reader can root for as they face seemingly impossible odds.

To create a damn good thriller, construct it on the following seven pillars. Leave any one out and you may fail. The seven pillars of a damn good thriller: High stakes: Lives, sanity, or the fate of humanity should be at risk Unity of opposites: The hero can't escape the challenge Seemingly impossible odds: It should appear the hero can't possibly win Moral struggle: Clear right and wrong, with the hero on the side of right Ticking clock: A deadline creates urgency and keeps readers engaged Menace: Constant danger for the hero and other characters Thriller-type characters: Clever and resourceful heroes and villains When plotting your thriller, continually check that you're incorporating these elements. They create the tension, excitement, and moral weight that readers expect from the genre.