Is it a Thriller or Just Plain Novel?

underthecity · Dec 29, 2011

I'm about halfway through revising the first draft of my YA novel. In the beginning I called it a "YA thriller." But then, it's not so much a thriller, as in nonstop chases, breathless action, and every chapter ends with a heart-stopping cliffhanger.

However, there are thrilling parts, especially the last few chapters and climax.

What makes a "thriller" a thriller? Where's the line drawn where it's not a thriller, it's just a novel?

Phaeal · Dec 29, 2011

I like Elizabeth Lyon's definition of the thriller as a subgenre of suspense.

"In suspense, the criminal [antagonist] is known or soon known, and one or more characters are pursued and almost constantly in danger. The reader may know more than the protagonist. Suspense [vicariously satisfies] a reader's visceral emotions."

Thrillers themselves divide into subgenres, based on the nature of the threat/milieu: spy thriller, forensic thriller, legal thriller, medical thriller, political thriller, psychological thriller, romantic thriller, techno thriller.

Many, many novels have "thrilling" scenes without being thrillers. I do think the emotional focus has to be on suspense, beginning to end foreboding and anxiety over fairly specific threats.

underthecity · Dec 29, 2011

There's definitely suspense. And there are specific threats and anxiety. Plus, it's now told in first-person.

Susan Coffin · Dec 29, 2011

I have heard in a thriller you know who did whatever they did pretty much off the bat, but in suspense you need to figure out who did "it."

However, in my own definition, a thriller is one where I'm on the edge of my seat because there's lot of chases, drama, etc.

Phaeal · Dec 29, 2011

Susan Littlefield said:
I have heard in a thriller you know who did whatever they did pretty much off the bat, but in suspense you need to figure out who did "it."

I'd call that mystery.

gothicangel · Dec 29, 2011

I'm a great fan of psychological thrillers. Not so much fights, chases etc, But plays on a psychological level. Nicci French is a good example of this.

I write historical thrillers. The WIP I'm editing is a 'Chase' plot [which gets reversed on the MC, and he goes from hunter to the hunted.] The WIP I'm in the first draft of is a spy thriller, that primarily works on a psychological level with a few sword-fights thrown in.

Without knowing something of the plot, I couldn't say whether it is a thriller or not.

Toothpaste · Dec 29, 2011

Is it a thriller or an adventure? My latest book has a lot of detective style work, a fair few action sequences and some creepy moments. But the overall tone is light and exciting, so it's an adventure despite being thrilling (at least, I hope being thrilling).

I think thriller, aside from what happens, comes down to tone. So, what's the tone of your work?

leahzero · Dec 29, 2011

Phaeal said:
Many, many novels have "thrilling" scenes without being thrillers. I do think the emotional focus has to be on suspense, beginning to end foreboding and anxiety over fairly specific threats.

Toothpaste said:
Is it a thriller or an adventure? My latest book has a lot of detective style work, a fair few action sequences and some creepy moments. But the overall tone is light and exciting, so it's an adventure despite being thrilling (at least, I hope being thrilling).

I think thriller, aside from what happens, comes down to tone.

Agree with these two 100%, especially the bolded part.

A thriller is defined not just by what happens, but how the story is told.

IDGS · Dec 29, 2011

I think the people above have nailed it.

I've never understood how any novel isn't suspenseful. If you knew what was going to happen, it's a bit of a dull ride, innit?

Colour me ignorant, but I think you're on the right track.

sheadakota · Dec 29, 2011

The basic concept of a thriller is the ticking clock. Something has to be done before- something else- someone dies, the end of the world, whatever the race is against time.

Toothpaste · Dec 29, 2011

True, it absolutely involves that. But again, that would make my novel a thriller and it isn't one. It also needs a darker tone, some grit to it.

dangerousbill · Dec 29, 2011

underthecity said:
I'm about halfway through revising the first draft of my YA novel. In the beginning I called it a "YA thriller." But then, it's not so much a thriller, as in nonstop chases, breathless action, and every chapter ends with a heart-stopping cliffhanger.

'Thriller' is a technical term, in the same way 'horror' does not necessarily involve horror, and 'scifi' does not necessarily involve science. If there are strong suspense elements and usually the threat of death or mass destruction, you have a thriller.

It may need some structural work. You say the thrilling parts are only in the last part of the book. How do you get your readers to that point? If your book is labeled a thriller, and the first chapter is a rambling soliloquy about Nature and fluffy animals, your reader won't get as far as chapter 2, let alone the exciting stuff.

underthecity · Dec 29, 2011

Toothpaste said:
Is it a thriller or an adventure? . . .
I think thriller, aside from what happens, comes down to tone. So, what's the tone of your work?

It's not adventure, it's set in modern times. The plot is this: A sixteen year old girl who does a webshow on YouTube is harrassed by text messages that threaten to reveal a secret from her past. Exposing this secret could send someone to jail, would implicate another with murder, and destroy her friendship with her best friend.

It's in first person, and the tone is semi-serious. She's sixteen, so, there's a lot of angst.

sheadakota said:
The basic concept of a thriller is the ticking clock. Something has to be done before- something else- someone dies, the end of the world, whatever the race is against time.

There's no ticking clock. Just that she has to decide whether to expose the secret herself, or wait for it to be exposed by the mystery person.

kuwisdelu · Dec 29, 2011

I would call it suspense.

Toothpaste · Dec 29, 2011

I agree, suspense - at least with what you've shared. Thriller is suspense with action, how about that?

Also, an adventure doesn't have to take place in the past.

gothicangel · Dec 29, 2011

underthecity said:
There's no ticking clock. Just that she has to decide whether to expose the secret herself, or wait for it to be exposed by the mystery person.

That is a ticking clock, just of the emotional variety.

underthecity · Dec 29, 2011

Thanks a lot for the insight. I'll call it a YA suspense novel. And look! Nothing supernatural anywhere to be found. Just one of the characters turns out to be a bit disturbed.

dangerousbill said:
It may need some structural work. You say the thrilling parts are only in the last part of the book. How do you get your readers to that point? If your book is labeled a thriller, and the first chapter is a rambling soliloquy about Nature and fluffy animals, your reader won't get as far as chapter 2, let alone the exciting stuff.

It's gone through a lot of restructuring, including the deletion of most and partial relocation of the first nine chapters so the story starts with the first harrassing text message.

Susan Coffin · Dec 29, 2011

Phaeal said:
I'd call that mystery.

You could be right.

Bron · Dec 30, 2011

I think suspense is a good choice. Thrillers, at least from my understanding, have high stakes for a large number of people, eg. a nuclear bomb could go off, whereas suspense focuses on a ticking clock that will affect one or two people.

heyjude · Dec 30, 2011

There's a thread down in MTS that talks about the differences between mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. My post #14 has some links to follow for more information.

I'd call yours suspense.

ETA: Or mystery, depending on what the agent is most interested in. :tongue

Is it a Thriller or Just Plain Novel?

underthecity

Finestkind

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

underthecity

Finestkind

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

leahzero

The colors! THE COLORS!

IDGS

@LeaveItToIan

sheadakota

part of the human equation

Toothpaste

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dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

underthecity

Finestkind

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

gothicangel

Toughen up.

underthecity

Finestkind

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Bron

heyjude

Making my own sunshine