Nature and Science. Asian Studies. Political Science. Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Russian and Eurasian Studies.
US History. Legal Studies. Labor Studies. Cultural Studies. Health and Medicine. Literature, Literary Criticism, and Poetry. New York State. Urban Studies. Middle East Studies. Cornell Studies in Security Affairs. The United States in the World. Battlegrounds: Cornell Studies in Military History. Medieval Societies, Religions, and Cultures. Expertise: Cultures and Technologies of Knowledge. Whichever subgenre you settle on, we recommend reading books that fit into that category to get an idea of the common elements that are often present.
Find out which genre your book belongs to. It only takes a minute! Based on advice from our network of editors, this is our take on how to write a thriller. Characters in thrillers are usually complex. The good guy might not be the model citizen, and the bad guy may have a justification and conviction for everything they do — at least in their mind.
The rivalries between these opposing forces is what will give rise to the action that will propel your story forward, so you need to give each of your characters a clear motivation. Ask yourself:. The opening scene is a pivotal moment in any book. Oftentimes starting in medias res is a good way to accomplish this. He is eventually rescued by a fishing boat, and we find out that this survivor has amnesia.
At this point, the reader has virtually no information about the characters or the plot of the book before being launched into a life-threatening situation. High stakes are characteristic of thrillers, but the particulars change depending on the subgenre.
For example, in a domestic thriller, the stakes will be more character-specific. Contrast this to a military or political thriller, where the consequences will probably be broader, affecting the fates of a group, country, or even the world. In this domestic thriller, the stakes are specific to the family. This will help heighten the stakes and make their eventual success much more satisfying for the readers.
So, put your characters in jeopardy by having dangerous situations come at them from unexpected places! Make their trusted allies turn on them seemingly out of the blue. Even though he is made to look like the culprit, we later find out that everything had been staged by Amy herself as a plan to accuse Nick of murder. What went wrong: After learning by way of prophecy that he will one day be king, Macbeth is gripped by an urge to claim his crown sooner rather than later.
He commits regicide, killing his friend King Duncan, and his growing paranoia leads him to murder several others to cover up the betrayal. Where they end up: Eventually, his crimes catch up to him and his wife: Lady Macbeth dies by suicide as a result of her own guilt, while Macbeth is killed by the avenging hero Macduff. Where they start: Emma is married to a well-meaning, if somewhat naive, young man. What went wrong: Having grown bored with her slow married life, Emma seeks excitement elsewhere.
She indulges in love affairs and a new-found extravagant lifestyle, which eventually leaves her in debt. Where they end up: When those debts begin to be called in, Emma realizes she has nobody to turn to; even her lovers will not help her and, in a fit of despair, she ends her own life. Where they start: Okonkwo is a famous wrestler, a powerful warrior, and the leader of his village.
He has the power and influence he craves over his community. Having offended the gods and spiralling into guilt, Okonkwo accidentally takes more lives, and is sent into exile. Where they end up: After suffering several more years of hardship as a result of his choice, Okonkwo eventually kills himself to avoid any further humiliation, a final enactment of his all-consuming pride.
Where they start: Eddard Ned is the respected Lord of Winterfell, a loyal friend of the king, and a loving husband and father. Where they end up: His refusal to give up his principles and adapt to the times lead to his execution after King Robert dies, leaving nobody to protect Ned from Cersei.
What went wrong: Threatened by the arrival of a new family in the area that her kids befriend, Elena becomes consumed with jealousy, leading her down a dark path of suspicion and blackmail.
Her need to follow the rules to the letter, to keep things just as they are, and her attempts to keep her children close eventually have the opposite effect, as her behavior drives them further from her.
You might be feeling a little down in the dumps after hearing all these tragic fates — but fear not! In this post, we reveal the seven essential story elements and show you how they work together. Whether you're working on a story, an essay, or an article, here's how to write better with these 5 tips. Try them on for size! Struggling with distance learning? Themes All Themes. Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read.
The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive. Visual theme-tracking, too. Everything I Never Told You 's important quotes, sortable by theme, character, or chapter. Ng has an older sister, and she has explained that the character of Hannah in Everything I Never Told You was based on her own experience of being the youngest child.
Ng attended Harvard University, where she studied English. She has published both short stories and essays in a range of literary journals, and Everything I Never Told You is her debut novel.
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