So You Want To Be A Thriller Writer, A Discussion Group discussion

What is the difference, if any, from a thriller, mystery or suspense novel? Are the stories you write or read strictly a thriller, mystery or suspense? Do they incorporate elements of all three?

At a writing conference, I heard the following definitions:
Mystery: a story about what happened. (Who killed Cock Robin?)
Thriller: a story about what is happening (Who's killing Cock Robin?)
Suspense: a story about what will happen (Who's going to kill Cock Robin?)

This should be a great discussion topic. For me, the thriller is all about a compelling lead and trouble, conflict and HIGH stakes. How do we accomplish this?

Plot, characterization, setting and withholding information. It is an art form and it isn't easy.

A mystery is finding matching pieces in a jig-saw puzzle; a thriller is fast-paced and can do with a number of genres, a suspense, however, has a number of various elements plus those already mentioned.

One well-known writer of crime novels described the difference in terms of the number of dead people.

“Once you come to the third dead person, you’re reading a thriller.”

I don't think of mystery, suspense, and thrillers as necessarily being different or unrelated genres. I look at them like a Venn Diagram -- you know those circles where common information is portrayed as linked together?

In mysteries, for instance, you can have cozies, procedurals, thrillers, murder, etc. In thrillers, you can have mysteries, suspense, science fiction (think Blade Runner), military, psychological, etc. In suspense you can have action, psychological, horror, thriller, etc. All three genres have intertwined elements.

A mystery thriller will have more action than a cozy or procedural. But does a psychological thriller have to have a lot of action to be suspenseful? Do all mysteries require a murder? And what constitutes a medical thriller?

Ouch. This makes my head hurt...

Your response made me smile.

I like your reference to a Venn Diagram, Martin. Brings back memories of teaching math.

BTW, how do you categorize 'Godfather'? It's a biography of a fictional mafioso per se, but what genre or sub-genre(s) would describe it best? It's of a practical interest to me.

Nik; How would you classify it? I would say it's an historical drama that depicts the age of La Cosa Nostra.

Thanks, Skye

I've no idea, that's why I'm asking. I mean, unlike me, some authors might've actually studied literature in unis -:)
I've co-authored something similar in concept but Ukrainian style and still struggling to understand what kind of animal that is.
I thought thriller (because you have a constantly on-going criminal activity, murders, politics, whatever)/ historical fiction, but it can be crime fiction, noir (because focused on a flawed character), political thriller and maybe more genres.
I'd really appriciate some heads up

I did, Nik and I taught it; however, seriously, I gave you ''my' definition above. it's a sociological/historical study of the mob's ideology and impact during a particular time in US history/.

At one time the Mafia had an enormous influence in society ( prohibition, prostitution, gambling) and this directly affected the economy of the states. Movies and novels began to romance the ideal of the Mafia and films celebrated members of each 'family.'

Skye wrote: "I did, Nik and I taught it; however, seriously, I gave you ''my' definition above. it's a sociological/historical study of the mob's ideology and impact during a particular time in US history/."

It sounds more like scientific definition, no?
If you had to choose 2 categories on Amazon and subsequent 'subs'. Would you pick 'historical drama' then? And what's the secondary, 'subs', in your opinion?

Skye wrote: "At one time the Mafia had an enormous influence in society ( prohibition, prostitution, gambling) and this directly affected the economy of the states. Movies and novels began to romance the ideal ..."

Yeah, Soprano and movies, dedicated from Lansky to all those who made headlines at the time -:) Thought it was more of a crime fiction

Sociological Drama; Honestly, it's one of the best films I have ever seen, and I also love Apocalypse Now ( which is an adaptation of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness).

Nik, it led to a series of mob flicks, so it was instrumental in promoting the film industry.

Sure, it's a great movie/book

So, I'm not in any kind of 'thrillers' at all?
Probably need to leave the group now -:)

Why leave the group? Do you like political/legal/ police procedural novels?

Sure, I do.
It's just the group is called 'you want to be a thriller writer' and if I'm classified as 'historical drama', I might be on the wrong bus -:)

Nik, I don't like labels; stay and see what happens; do you write?

Nik wrote: "BTW, how do you categorize 'Godfather'? It's a biography of a fictional mafioso per se, but what genre or sub-genre(s) would describe it best? It's of a practical interest to me."

The simplest categorization would be "crime novel," which can also fall under "mystery" or "thriller."

____

Ha, I just looked The Godfather up on Amazon. It's categorized as "Saga" and "Family Saga."

:)

Yep, self-published a couple of books, working on the third.

Length/scope wise, Godfather is a saga. But family saga?!

Nik; what abut your books? Yes, it is a family saga about the Corleones.

Mine?
In a nut shell:
The first is about a rise of a Ukrainian oligarch from a poor childhood to becoming a mighty billionaire with substantial political influence. His rise is through scams, violence, shenanigans and many more goodies/baddies.
That's the one where I'm hesitant how to classify it. It should be mentioned that as a parallel story line his associates conduct investigation of an assassination attempt on their boss.

The second is a sequel where the Oligarch evens some scores with some of his formidable adversaries - a gritty, hard boiled, political thriller.

It sounds great, especially because I am Ukrainian. It sounds like a David Balcucci theme.

Thanks, Skye. I don't want to self-promote and put links here, but you are welcome to have a look either here on Goodreads or on Amazon. You can look up Nik Krasno in both places

Please send the link to your book; I would like to look at it.

Hi Skye, In your inbox already -:)

Michael wrote: "What is the difference, if any, from a thriller, mystery or suspense novel? Are the stories you write or read strictly a thriller, mystery or suspense? Do they incorporate elements of all three?"
Hi, Michael. I've recently completed a novel that incorporates all three. Maybe because holding my attention is no easy task, I write for those similarly affected and lean toward a complicated story involving several subplots.

Thank you so much!

Nikolai???

D.B. wrote: "Michael wrote: "What is the difference, if any, from a thriller, mystery or suspense novel? Are the stories you write or read strictly a thriller, mystery or suspense? Do they incorporate elements ..."

That is my favorite type of book; I also find that labels tend to encumber instead of advance.

Hi Skye,

I can't agree with you more that labels encumber rather than advance. From my point of view, there are too many "sub" genres that stifle a book.

Case in point, the conundrum Nik is encountering. It appears Nik's first book encompasses several "sub" genres falling under the umbrella of a thriller.

Like writing a book blurb, selecting a genre for a book, can be a difficult task.

Nik is a fascinating gentleman; someone I would love to meet in person if he lived in the States, and his books sounds complex and wonderful. I am becoming more against labels as time goes by. I have read some excellent books that could be categorized under so many sub motifs; I think it has all become so very 'now,' the new trend, and that's why I prefer print over e-books and a story that really says something to me.

Thanks for the compliments, Skye. I'm not sure I deserve them -:). Beer is on me, if you happen to be in the region

Help me with conundrums, friends -:)

When an author publishes his book on Amazon, he or she is asked what genres they want to list their book under. I believe they allow 3 or 4 different genres. The list available is overwhelming with too many sub-genres.

Nik wrote: "Thanks for the compliments, Skye. I'm not sure I deserve them -:). Beer is on me, if you happen to be in the region

Help me with conundrums, friends -:)"

My pleasure, Nik; you have not bee around.

Michael wrote: "When an author publishes his book on Amazon, he or she is asked what genres they want to list their book under. I believe they allow 3 or 4 different genres. The list available is overwhelming with..."

I am never on Amazon; maybe that's why my perspective is different. I belong here, and I read and write on about 12 book blogs every day.

12 blogs, wow

Ok. I'm feeling overwhelmed right now after reading this.

I get my very best updates from the blogs; I don't think there is any false advertising; in fact, the sites state they offer honest reviews.

I work online with academic tests; reading interesting blogs help to distract me just enough.

Skye wrote: "Michael wrote: "When an author publishes his book on Amazon, he or she is asked what genres they want to list their book under. I believe they allow 3 or 4 different genres. The list available is o..."

What blogs do you write on?

Let me try to find all the names and post them for this group.

These are some, but not all:

Fiction Zeal
Hidden Staircase
Buried Under Books
Will Kill for a Story
Sisters of Crime
The Crime Segments
Amber Foxx Mysteries

Mamma mia - so many blogs

There are others, Nik, but I don't recall until I get another alert.