How to Write a Tween Thriller

Many kids grew up reading mysteries like those of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. But as they got older, they began to find mysteries a bit too tame, wanting more action, and mysteries simply didn't provide that element. Enter the thriller. Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories, but are distinguished by the structure of their plots. In a thriller, the hero must thwart the plans of an enemy, rather than uncover a crime that has already happened. Thrillers may be defined by the primary mood that they exhibit: excitement. In short, if it “thrills” it is a thriller. This is a good genre for the tween writer. Read on to learn how to write a tween thriller.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Writing tools

1. Know that action thrillers often features a race against the clock, contains lots of action and an obvious antagonist.

2. Understand that a conspiracy thrillers are ones in which the hero or heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he or she recognizes.

3. Keep in mind that disaster thrillers are where the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes or potential nuclear disasters.

4. Know that spy thrillers are ones which the hero is generally a government agent who must take action against agents of a rival government or terrorists. The "Spy Kids" movies would be in this category.

5. Consider that supernatural thrillers are where the conflict is between characters, one of which has supernatural powers.

6. Understand that techno-thrillers are ones which usually focuses upon action, in which technology is described in detail and is essential to the plot. These books might take place on the Internet and involve dangerous computers.

Tips & Warnings

• The golden rule of the thriller is very simple, your book must at all times keep the reader turning the pages. There are a few basic rules that govern successful thriller writing.
• In writing a thriller for kids or tweens be sure to tone down the violence. To an acceptable level for your audience.

Resources

• Home of the International Thriller Writers
• Publishers Weekly for Additional Resources