There’s something intoxicating about writing suspense thrillers.
The genre takes readers on a roller coaster of adventure and emotions, plunging them into heart-pounding scenarios where every shadow holds a threat and every decision could be fatal. A good thriller doesn’t just tell a story, it creates an immersive experience that makes readers feel like they’re right there with the character, their pulse racing, palms sweating, feeling everything the protagonist feels and experiencing every harrowing moment alongside them.
For me, writing thrillers is more than just a creative outlet. It’s a necessity. I have to do something with the stories constantly churning in my head, the plot twists that wake me at 3 AM, the characters who demand their voices be heard. Writing gives me a legitimate, legal way to channel frustrations, to explore the darker corners of human nature, and to ask “what if?” in ways that would be impossible—or inadvisable—in real life. Plus, it’s genuinely fun. There’s a particular joy in crafting the perfect red herring or watching a carefully planted clue pay off chapters later.
And perhaps best of all, it’s portable. I can write anywhere—on a lunch break, waiting for a friend, while out walking, or curled up in bed at midnight. All I need is my mind and a way to capture the words before they slip away.
There are many writers who have inspired me with their writing, their stories, and their journey. These twenty quotes about writing, creativity, and the art of keeping readers on the edge of their seats, are what inspire me to keep writing:
On the Craft of Writing
1. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou
2. “You can make anything by writing.” — C.S. Lewis
3. “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” — Louis L’Amour
4. “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” — Toni Morrison
5. “The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.” — Stephen King
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On Creating Suspense and Tension
6. “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” — Stephen King
7. “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” — W. Somerset Maugham
8. “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” — Terry Pratchett
9. “I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of.” — Joss Whedon
10. “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov
On Perseverance and Process
11. “You fail only if you stop writing.” — Ray Bradbury
12. “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” — Mark Twain
13. “I hate writing, I love having written.” — Dorothy Parker
14. “Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” — William Faulkner
15. “Write drunk, edit sober.” — Ernest Hemingway (disputed attribution, but could be good advice. Haven’t tried it yet…)
On Story and Character
16. “The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them.” — Stephen King
17. “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” — Isaac Asimov
18. “Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka
19. “The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.” — Robert Cormier
20. “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” — Ray Bradbury
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These quotes remind me that writing is both a craft and a calling, a discipline and a passion. It is not about having the perfect story the first time but putting in the time to make it perfect before it is published. That is where the true magic in a story happens.
For thriller writers especially, our job is to play with our readers’ nerves—building tension, releasing it, then building it again until the final, satisfying ending.
The world needs more page-turners, more gasps in the night, more books that readers can’t put down. So, excuse me while I get back to writing my next suspense thriller.
Be sure to check out my, more than twenty, suspense thriller novels: Click here.
What kind of stories do you like to read?
Thank you.
Whether her thrillers are set in a real town, city, countryside, or one pulled straight from her imagination, Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author Maggie Thom writes engaging suspense that dives deep into a family’s lies, ties, and deceit. Her stories are rollercoasters, featuring strong women who know what’s right but must navigate a maze of twists, turns, and dangerous secrets to get there.
Maggie believes in happily-ever-after, but she’ll take you on one unforgettable adventure before you reach it.
Buckle up, you’re in for quite a ride.
Get her Free eBook – Blurred Lines.
Her motto: Read to escape… Escape to read…
“Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller… that keeps the reader interested and on edge!” InDtale Magazine
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