Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction

by Patricia Highsmith

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312286668
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/08/2001
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	189,589
Product dimensions:	5.45(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.45(d)

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).

Date of Birth:

January 19, 1921

Date of Death:

February 4, 1995

Place of Birth:

Fort Worth, Texas

Place of Death:

Locarno, Switzerland

Education:

B.A., Barnard College, 1942

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	Foreword	xi
I	The Germ Of An Idea	3
II	Mainly On Using Experiences	14
III	The Suspense Short Story	27
IV	Development	37
V	Plotting	53
VI	The Frist Draft	61
VII	The Snags	82
VIII	The Second Draft	97
IX	The Revisions	103
X	The Case History Of A Novel: The Glass Cell	108
XI	Some Notes On Suspense In General	133

Editorial Reviews

[This book offers] sensible, good-humored, and practical advice from a distinguished mystery writer. Much of what [Highsmith] says about novels can be applied to short stories.” —Damon Knight

“[Highsmith] is no more a practitioner of the murder mystery genre than are Dostoevsky, Faulkner, and Camus.” —Joan Smith, The Los Angeles Times

“For eliciting the menace that lurks in familiar surroundings, there's no one like Patricia Highsmith.” —Time

From the Publisher

Whether you want to write a whodunit, a howdunit, or even a whydunit, you have to have suspense. One of the finest suspense novelists in existence, Patricia Highsmith, has analyzed the basic components in creating suspense and gathered them together in an easy-to-read book: Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction. Learn how to make your plots as gripping as possible, create interesting characters, and utilize the basic elements of suspense to make your mystery stand out from the rest.

bn.com

From the author of The Talented Mr. Ripley comes a how-to manual on her craft. In Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction, the late Patricia Highsmith gives advice on generating ideas ("It is amusing to let the imagination play with such incidents as a faintly heard song and an invaded apartment, and to see what evolves from them"), helpful practices (keep a notebook), overarching philosophies ("The first person you should think of pleasing, in writing a book, is yourself") and specific craft issues ("where should one place the climax in a book?"). The advice is all sound (particularly her ideas on "almost incredible" coincidences), and her status as a suspense heavyweight and a commercial success make her book eminently credible. ( Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

The late Highsmith, author of 27 works of fiction, including The Talented Mr. Ripley, wrote this book over 20 years ago to help new writers craft suspense fiction. Writers will be glad that it has finally been published. Not that there is a lot of new information here the pleasure is in the style of the book. It is casual and personal, and writers will feel as if Highsmith herself were sitting next to them sharing tips and bits of advice she gleaned from years of experience. The book begins with getting ideas and moves on to plotting, drafts, snags, and revisions. A "case history" of her novel The Glass Cell and some general notes on suspense conclude the book. The book offers useful instructions to writers, plus a glimpse at how a suspense writer works. Highly recommended for public libraries. Lisa J. Cihlar, Monroe P.L., WI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal