Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction
by Patricia Highsmith
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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780312286668 |
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
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. Anyone who wishes to write crime and suspense fiction, or who enjoys reading it, will find this book an insightful guide to the craft and art of a modern master.
Synopsis:
Patricia Highsmith is known as one of the finest suspense novelists in the world. 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 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.
About the Author
The great mystery/suspense writer Patricia Highsmith published more than two dozen works of fiction, as well as numerous reviews and essays, and was awarded the French Grand Prix de Littérature Policière (1957) and the British Crime Writers Associations's Silver Dagger (1964).
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Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780312286668
- Author:
- Publisher:
- St. Martin's Press
- Location:
- New York
- Subject:
- Fiction
- Subject:
- Composition & Creative Writing
- Subject:
- Creative writing
- Subject:
- Composition & Creative Writing - Genre Fiction
- Subject:
- Detective and mystery stories
- Subject:
- Suspense fiction
- Copyright:
- 1983
- Edition Number:
- Reprint
- Edition Description:
- Revised and Updated
- Series Volume:
- no. 01-11-009
- Publication Date:
- September 2001
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 145
- Dimensions:
- 8.34x5.56x.43 in. .34 lbs.











