After attending numerous workshops at RWA conferences and meeting with critic groups, I’ve come to recognize the value in listening to suggestions from established authors and literary agents. They know the business and structure for successful formula writing. Over the years, I’ve written and edited short stories and business documents, but undertaking the process of creating a sellable, memorable novel is a whole different matter. Here are a few simple tips I’ve held onto and would love to pass along to new authors.
Whether suspense or mainstream fiction, the first paragraph is essential for setting the tone in your story. It should grab your reader’s attention and be viewed as the first piece in a disassembled puzzle. While writing Flaherty’s Crossing, I wanted my readers to sympathize with my main character’s damaged soul and allude to the fact that she would be undergoing a tremendous emotional journey before the book’s end. Thus the first two lines needed to be equally strong and thought-provoking.
The last grain of sand was about to drop in her father’s invisible hourglass and there was nothing Kate Flaherty could do to stop it. The realization launched a shutter up her spine.
In Severed Threads, I chose to grow the suspense in this book in a more deliberate, graduated fashion. If you notice, by the fourth line, I’ve already hinted that my treasure hunter is going to find himself distracted, which becomes a tangled up mess as complications in his endeavor increase to the point of destroying his life.
Chase Cohen tumbled over Stargazer’s side and into California’s cold Pacific Ocean, his dreams of riches so close he could barely breath. Five years of diving for corporate salvage companies had taught him to restore his senses as quickly as possible. To concentrate and remain focused on his purpose. Yet every time he entered this icy underworld, he found himself briefly caught up in his surroundings.
Lastly, remember that a good suspense novel needs a great twist, leaving your readers surprised and completely dumbfounded. If you weave subtle hints or elements into your story – whether it’s a conniving character or unseen disaster – be sure to keep that final “gotcha” moment waiting in your closing pages so that your readers are left hungry for more.
Buried Threads, the second book in my Threads series, continues the drama from Severed Threads with the same fun, mismatched crew. Even in a follow-up story, it’s just as important to provide everything your audience is going to need – time, place, foreshadowing…even the main character's attitude – in the first sentence and as you can tell by the following lines, my protagonist is going to have a crazy, harrowing adventure.
Rachel Lyons arrived at the departure gate just as the plane was boarding for the 11:30 A.M. flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo with 15,800 yens in her purse, a heavy Coach duffle bag and growing sense of apprehension over Trident Ventures’ new assignment. In preparation for her trip, she’d read dozens of books about the Knights Templar and absorbed as much basic Japanese as her brain would allow. She’d forced herself to appreciate the nuances of exotic Asian cuisine – although eating raw squid when it could so easily be cooked would forever remain a mystery.
Interested in reading more about my books and upcoming releases? Visit my website at http://www.kaylinmcfarren.com. And be sure to leave a comment following this post for an opportunity to win an autographed copy of my latest award-winning release, Severed Threads.
13 COMMENTS
pearl
12 years agoThanks for this great post. Severed threads sounds compelling and your dedication to causes is wonderful. I enjoyed learning about your writing and your life.
4kaylin
12 years ago AUTHORThanks!!! Are you a writer as well? What kind of books do you enjoy reading?If you like romantic suspense, I’m hoping you’ll consider reading Severed Threads. It’s an action-adventure as well and as with all of the books I write, there’s always a little paranormal thrown into the mix. 🙂 Kaylin
Colleen
12 years agoWow, both books sounds very i nteresting! I am going to go and visit your website and look around… thanks for sharing! 😀
ellie
12 years agoSevered threads would be extremely fascinating and gripping. I read mystery, historicals and suspense. Fiction is something I love and enjoy, family sagas. Best wishes and much continued success.
Kaylin McFarren
12 years agoThanks, ladies!!! I'm always interested in what other people read. As for myself, I'm a huge Tom Clancy and Jodi Picoult fan and love thrillers with a great twist! 🙂
4kaylin
12 years ago AUTHORI'm doing a bit of multi-tasking today. Entertaining out of town family, visiting this blog, paying bills on line, folding laundry and editing the next book in the Threads series – Buried Threads. For anyone who enjoyed the movies Memoirs of a Geisha, Black Rain and Jewel of the Nile, which starred Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, you're going to LOVE this book because it's a dark, fast pace romantic drama set in the Japanese underworld. I'm tapping into my own experiences in the Maiko quarters of Gion and am looking forward to sharing them with you. So has anyone visited Japan besides me??
Kaylin McFarren
12 years agoStill hoping to hear back from more readers. I'll be picking a winning name from this site on Thursday night for a free autographed copy of Severed Threads! 🙂
mary hay
12 years agoI, too, have lost several relitives to cancer. My dad used to say that cancer is really a gift from God. Not many people know that their death is near and have a chance to make things right before their death. He lived that and tried to visit as many people he knew in his life as possible. He never told them he was dying, just that he'd been thinking about them and wanted to say "Hi". Thanks for the chance to win.
Pam
12 years agoAlthough I'm not a writer, this was a great post. I can totally see how the first lines of book can be so important. Both books sound really good, so thank you for the chance to win Severed Threads.
Kaylin McFarren
12 years agoYour father sounded like a remarkable man, Mary. I'm sure you miss him very much. Thank you for sharing your story and posting here today. You're now in the drawing for my book on Thursday evening!! Good luck. 🙂
anne
12 years agoI was diagnosed with br east cancer 8 months ago. So far, so good after all the treatments and surgery. I now am starting to walk in my neighborhood each day. Severed Threads is unique and a special novel. thanks for this post and your cause which you support. so wonderfully.
Kaylin McFarren
12 years agoYou're most welcome, Pam. And good luck to you as well!!
Kaylin McFarren
12 years agoBoy, I just couldn't pick only one winner because I appreciated hearing from everyone who took the time to post their comments. Since I do have extra copies of my books available, send me your mailing addresses for signed paperbacks and I 'll provide one to each of you with the hope that you'll post your honest review on Amazon.com. Sound good???
Kaylin. 🙂
kaylin@kaylinmcfarren.com