Sunday, January 31, 2010

Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction by Patricia Highsmith

Today I finished reading Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction (1983) by Patricia Highsmith.

     "Patricia Highsmith, author of Strangers On a Train, The Talented Mr.Ripley, Found In The Street, and many other books, is known as one of the finest suspense novelists. In this book, she analyzes the key elements of suspense fiction, drawing upon her own experience in four decades as a working writer. She talks about, among other topics; how to develop a complete story from an idea; what makes a plot gripping; the use (and abuse) of coincidence; characterization and the "likeable criminal"; going from first draft to final draft; and writing the suspense short story.


     Throughout the book, Highsmith illustrates her points with plentiful examples from her own work, and by discussing her own inspirations, false starts, dead ends, successes, and failures, she presents a lively and highly readable picture of the novelist at work." - Google Books

This book was a total dud for me.  And I really wanted to learn about plotting and writing suspense.  I rated this book as 1 star.  The lowest rating I can give.  Don't bother.

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