'What writing suspense - and success - is all about'

 

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 on June 22, 1964 Brown has utilized the technique to perfection.  His thrillers exude suspense and his readers flock to them and have since his first success (The Da Vinci Code) in 2003.  Brown's novels are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour period, featuring recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes and conspiracy theories.  

 

While writing is his life today it wasn’t that way until the mid-1990s.  Until then he was a singer, songwriter and pianist in Hollywood, where he also taught music at the prestigious Beverly Hills Preparatory School.  Brown grew up with classical music and still is a composer.  His highly regarded Wild Symphony features 21 individual orchestral movements representing the funny or interesting sides of various animals’ personalities.  "My engagement with music has never waned," he told one interviewer. "I still play piano and compose nearly every day."

 

Another writing technique Brown likes is using real people in his life as key characters, answering the old familiar question many writers get: “Where do you get your characters?” 

 

Characters aside, Brown’s secret to writing success is simple:  “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.”