A Key To Writing Success

“I often will write a scene from three different points of view to find out which has the most tension and which way I’m able to conceal the information I’m trying to conceal.  And that is, at the end of the day, what writing suspense is all about.”– Dan Brown

Born in New Hampshire Brown (who turns 55 tomorrow) has utilized his technique to perfection.  His thrillers exude suspense and his readers flock to them, having purchased well over 200 million copies since his first success, The Da Vinci Code in 2003.  Brown's novels are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour period, and feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes and conspiracy theories.  They’ve been translated into 52 languages. 

While writing is his life it wasn’t that way until the mid-1990s when he was on vacation, read a thriller by Sidney Sheldon, and decided that’s what he really wanted to do.  Up until then he had been a successful singer, songwriter and pianist.

 Brown likes the real people in his life as key characters – a great writing technique that every writer should consider.   And it certainly helps answer that old question often tossed a writer’s direction: “Where do you get your characters?” 

    His secret to his success (besides having writing talent, of course): “Hard work.  I still get up every morning at 4 a.m.  I write seven days a week, including Christmas.  I still face a blank page every morning, and my characters don’t really care how many books I’ve sold."

Writer’s Moment with a friend at httpe://writersmoment.blogspot.com