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.

Though the focus leans towards suspense writing, this book has a lot of great advice for any fiction writer. And if your a fan of Patricia Highsmith, you'll likely find additional interest from the insight you'll gain into the development of her own stories.

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.

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.

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.

I've been a fan of Patricia Highsmith's work since I was a teenager, and this fabulous book gives a real insight into the hard work and craftsmanship that went into creating her suspense novels. Interesting for anyone who enjoys her work, or simply likes reading the kind of books that keep you up all night waiting to find out what happens next.

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I brought this fantastic book on my kindle. Highly recommend it for writers of all types/genres of stories.The book is unassuming in its nature. Originally, published in the 60s it is quite different and brilliant when compared to modern writing-help books. In my opinion, modern books on writing tend to present information in ‘to-do-notes or tips’ format and become a bit preachy or stick-to-formula type. Ms. Highsmith has written it in a flowing manner, a manner that even a budding writer can understand.In this book, Ms. Highsmith talks about her own work and her methodology. At the very beginning, she honestly points out that there is no book available to tell a beginning writer how to succeed and that she would speak about her own stories, attempts, success and failure. She lays an emphasis on individuality which is rare these days.Throughout the book, she first presents an example from her novels and stories and then points out the problems with writing she faced and how she overcame them. There lies the gem of advice. If you happen to purchase and read this book, please do sit with a pencil or marker. This will help you highlight important pieces of advice as they come, be assured they do come and open your eyes to the craft of writing!

In addition to give us some guidance about writing techniques that proved useful to her own writing, Highsmith offers an account of what it means to be a writer in a world of multiple demands and distractions. She also offers a superb analitical essay about her own novels since the early stages of the gathering of ideas, to the ellaboration of the story and the dealing with the publishing market.

Great book on how P.H. builds and flesh her stories out. She analyses her work and gives an insight into her method, both logical and imaginative.