What makes for a great thriller? In a word, suspense. Thriller writers know that readers expect high stakes, compelling characters, and a twisting plot to keep the pages turning. Top crime writers use a variety of techniques to ramp up the tension and ensure readers stay glued to their seats. But these strategies can be used by writers specializing in virtually any genre.
I’ll also suggest that writers consider the strategic use of setting to enhance their stories and also how symbols and image patterns can subtly reinforce the themes of the work. For a much deeper understanding of these strategies and others, I strongly recommend reading the craft book Thrill Me: Essays on Fiction (Graywolf, 2016) by Benjamin Percy.
Venture Further: Consider what a moment of life-changing weakness would look like for the narrator of your work. What would tempt them to act in a way that they believe themselves incapable of? What would happen if they behaved this way? And what would it take to pull them back from the brink? {read}