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Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot

How to Write Gripping Stories That Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seats

Author Jane K. Cleland

Foreword by Hallie Ephron

Paperback

$18.99 US

Penguin Adult HC/TR | Writer's Digest Books

5.52"W x 8.36"H x 0.62"D | 8 oz | 48 per carton

On sale Apr 28, 2016 | 240 Pages | 9781599639673

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Non-fiction > Writing

Enthrall Your Readers!

Suspense is one of the most powerful tools a writer has for captivating readers--but it isn't just for thrillers. From mainstream fiction to memoir, suspense creates the emotional tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is your hands-on guide to weaving suspense into your narrative. Award-winning author Jane K. Cleland teaches you how to navigate genre conventions, write for your audience, and build gripping tension to craft an irresistible page-turner.

Inside, Cleland will show you how to:

   • Implement thirteen no-fail techniques to construct an effective plot and structure for your story
   • Use Cleland's Plotting Road Map to add elements of suspense like twists, reversals, and moments of danger
   • Write subplots with purpose
   • Improve your descriptions, character development, sentence structure, and more
Packed with case studies, exercises, and dozens of examples from best-selling authors, Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is the key to writing suspenseful, engaging stories that leave your readers wanting more.

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"Indispensable! For newbie authors and veterans alike, this terrific how-to is your new go-to. Don't write your book without it--it's a treasure." --Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark award-winning author

"Award-winning author Jane Cleland has crafted an insightful and entertaining page-turner about crafting page-turners. Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot belongs on every writer's shelf." --Wendy Corsi Staub, New York Times best-selling author

"Unputdownably indispensable! For newbie authors and veterans alike, this terrific how-to is your new go-to. Don't write your book without it--it's a treasure." --Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark award winning author

"Masterful! I love this book. Oh, how I wish I'd had it when I was struggling with my first crime novel. This is a gold mine of information, of insight on how to structure and pace the novel. Brilliant. And even as I write my current book I find myself reflecting on her insights, and using them. This isn't about being formulaic. It's about first understanding the structure, and then making it your own. Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot is an absolutely extraordinary resource for anyone serious about writing not just a crime novel, but any book. --Louise Penny, #1 New York Times best-selling author

"Jane Cleland had drawn a detailed road map for navigating the suspense-writing journey. In a well-thought-out and artfully constructed way, she concisely covers it all. I wish I had read Mastering Suspense, Structure, & Plot before I ever started writing mysteries, but I sure am glad to have this book now." --Mary Jane Clark, New York Times best-selling author

"Leave it to Jane Cleland, the reigning queen of the traditional mystery, to reveal the secrets of suspense--and to take the sweat out of writing today's hottest genre!" --Paula Munier, senior literary agent at Talcott Notch Literary Agency and author of Plot Perfect

Jane K. Cleland is a featured speaker at seminars, workshops, and industry conferences throughout North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. She has worked with top organizations such as American Express, Dun and Bradstreet, Dialogic, the State of Ohio Department of Health, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies, as well as major universities.

Visit Jane K. Cleland on the Web. Go to: www.jkcleland.com

View titles by Jane K. Cleland