Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction

This book is wonderful. A look inside her writing life. Thoughtful and provocative. It isn't necessary to agree with her take on writing to get a great deal from the book!.

Quite a lot of words but some statements are helpful about writing. More of a memoir by the author, interesting in places.

This book is not exactly a how-to book.It is more like a long conversation with a mystery author I highly revere. Patricia Highsmith had her own style and a unique atmosphere in her stories. She always managed to bring a likable quality to her characters while still carrying them to a point of disturbance where the reader almost feels claustrophobic.Of course authors get inspiration from others, but she was not someone trying to write like somebody else to gain notoriety. So how much help will you get from an author who was arguably in a category by herself? By receiving precious ounces of what is most valuable to any aspiring writer: inspiration. She will make you think of your own feelings about the structure of your story, about the discipline you need as a writer. And she does this without the formality of a college textbook, but rather by pointing your attention towards major points. Don't read the whole book while on a long flight. Read it over several reading sessions and let it sink in. Then, if you are contemplating your own creation while reading "Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction", you will suddenly find yourself getting much more from this book than the mere arguments the author makes. It will become significant to you in a unique and personal way.I have also experienced that this book, like an old friend, can bring your attention back to the writing project that really matters to you when you get distracted.

I read this book after Damon Knight included it among his "Suggested Reading" at the end of CREATING SHORT FICTION. He wrote, "Sensible, good-humored, and practical advice from a distinguished mystery writer. Much of what she says about novels can be applied to short stories." I agree that there are lessons to be learned from this book, but readers will have to hunt for them inside this highly personalized, subjective book. After all, Highsmith (who wrote THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN) begins her book by saying, "This is not a how-to-do-it handbook." It's a collection of lessons she has learned over the course of her career: the successes, the failures, the tips, and the traps.I enjoyed Highsmith's advice on how to find the ideas for a story and how to judge whether that idea will carry a short story, a novel, or only a subplot. She also talks about developing or "thickening" those ideas. I am an outliner, and Highsmith isn't, but I still found her approach interesting. She will outline enough to get rolling, and then look for opportunities to let the characters take over and surprise her (and her readers too). I also enjoyed her advice for starting a story at a brisk pace and keeping it moving, as well as staying in control of a stories "proportions" and themes. I think this advice would be useful for any writer.But a big negative for me was that throughout the book, Highsmith says, in effect, "This is what works for me. It may not work for you. Although she is very upfront about the subjective nature of this book, I think Stephen King's ON WRITING is a far more effective autobiography/how-to book for writers in general. If you are focusing on suspense or mystery though, I think you would find this quick read worth your time.

I'm glad I bought this book. As an author of suspense myself, I found it very worthwhile. It won't teach you how to write--but I've found no book can really do that. In the same vein as Stephen Kings book On Writing, it is more an account about how this highly successful author developed her craft over the years, her successes and failures. If you want a how to guide you would be better off with another title. It also enhances the enjoyment of this book if the reader is familiar with Highsmith's books. I found it interesting to know where she got her ideas and how she developed a small incident into a novel.

There are so many gems and insights in this articulate, intelligent, thoughtful, and humorous book. No, it'snot Writer's Digest telling you how to come up with a hackneyed plot. This is a real writer giving insights into her craft. Recommended for any creative person. SO much to love here. I love what PH says about the tax man! It's a book you will want to read again and again - PH packed quite a bit into this little gem.

Not a book to read to learn about writing suspense fiction in general, because (as she admits in the last chapter) she doesn’t consider herself to be a suspense writer(!): but recommended if you are a Patricia Highsmith fan and want to know more about how she writes.

I am both a writer and an inveterate fan of Highsmith, so this double dollop of toil and trouble was a delight for me to read. The references to The Blunderer made me rush to Amazon and buy it, and I am not disappointed. Probably the best portrayal of a mad and maddening wife I have ever read. The advice? Excellent, if often abstract, but always enjoyable.