When writing a technothriller novel, how does the author create the plot and refine it? The plot can be based on one basic concept. Then, it can evolve from that point, as the writing progresses. Others will take the basic plot concept and map out the plot in detail, before writing. That can be seen as formulaic. Once the plot is mapped out in detail, then some would say that it becomes writing by numbers. Keen readers will see these patterns in many techno thriller novels and in other fiction too. My preferred approach is to set out on the journey with one central idea, and let the story develop itself. With 'Gate of Tears' it was the extraction of gold from seawater. Of course, that way, you don't know how the story will go. With technothrillers most authors will know that the main character will survive. That way they always keep open the possibility of developing a sequel, or even a series of books. Obvious. 'Gate of Tears' is set mainly in the Middle East, where the Strait known as the 'Bab el Mandeb' - its Arabic translation - is the southern gateway to the Red Sea. There is action in Alaska and Australia besides the Yemen, and in many ways the geography helped the plot development. I would find it much more challenging to write a thriller novel that was set in a fairly constrained environment - say a prison. Then there are other challenges. How can an author deal with a stage in the story where a character has been put in an apparently dead-end situation? Obvious? The writer backtracks. 'Unwriting' is, for me, a copout and also loses an opportunity for further plot intrigue. So, I wait and think, and sometimes it takes a few weeks to work out an answer (even by adding in some relevant context earlier in the book). I'll take a notebook and go for a walk. And another walk. Another issue is 'what happens next'? An author could do as the main character does in 'The Diceman' - identify some options and then throw the dice to see which scores most. It's an approach I haven't used myself, though I do think about options. I don't know how it worked for me, the ideas just came, though I did sometimes consider options. A newish approach is to let the readers decide, publishing one or more chapters at a time and inviting reader input. I don't favour that. Technology Input With techno thrillers there are other ways of plot development, because the technology itself can tell a story. And, then, when you get down to it, the writer can extrapolate existing technology. I have a science news blog feed which I monitor, and that pours out new technology for me. Then, recently on the television I saw the new Honda robot which can hop on one leg and pour a drink. It was scary, and the possibilities for techno thriller authors are clear. It's not sci-fi anymore - it's here. The approaches I describe here all help the plot develop , whilst allowing room for the mystical creative aspect. My favourite though, is when I tell the main character 'Now, get out of that" and don't back off from finding a solution!
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
