SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group discussion
Random Chats
>
I'd like to write a Military Thriller any suggestions for writing the bad guys ??
date
newest »
newest »
And sorry if this is placed in wrong location you can move it any time if you want
Can’t go wrong with the classic rogue/bent US SpecOp Operator. Maybe a SEAL/CAG soldier turned by a rogue CIA agent, chasing money/facilitating security for cartel/terror group. That way you can outfit him in all the newest, high-tech kit…Peltor headsets, HK rifles, Thermal optics, etc. Or, if setting is in the past, I’ve always loved the idea of a Vietnam thriller featuring a rogue green beret, seconded to the phoenix project, who goes “Col. Kurtz”. Either way, I always love thrillers where the antagonist is comparable/seems superior in terms of skills to the protagonist…makes for a phenomenal climax. Jack Carr does this better than anyone imo
Mod
Just teasing ya. But my point is valid: writing genre fiction which is coherent and lucid enough for an audience today to read, enjoy, and find entertaining is a tough, tough, feat to accomplish.
We have professional novelists in this group; I'm sure they'll be glad to advise you and probably a little amused at the same time. They'll tell you how difficult a thing this is, which you want to take on. If you've never written anything on this scale before, gaining mastery takes years of pain and toil.
There's many ways you can start though ...there's many preliminary steps you can take ...if you're really serious ...
Galen wrote: "Which kind of weapons should they have ??
Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything from Womens cores , to Special Operation Un..."
The answers to your various questions will depend a lot on the context, place and time period of your military thriller, Galen. Is it a story about WW2, or Vietnam, or of some conflict in the present times? Who are the protagonists (countries fighting each other)? Is it a full scale war between large countries, some kind of insurgency/guerrila war or a kind of special forces clandestine mission? You can't even start writing your thriller without answering those questions first.
A word of caution: you better be at least reasonably knowledgeable about military weapons, tactics and organizations if you want to write a military thriller. If you know little or nothing about those and try to fudge it, the readers will quickly take you to task and will drop your book at once. The way you asked your questions suggests to me that you don't seem to know much about military matters. I am not saying that to be arrogant but simply to point out that you MUST know your stuff if you want to write a successful military thriller. Many readers are veterans with plenty of military experience and they will slice your book to pieces if you simply try to wing it.
Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything from Womens cores , to Special Operation Un..."
The answers to your various questions will depend a lot on the context, place and time period of your military thriller, Galen. Is it a story about WW2, or Vietnam, or of some conflict in the present times? Who are the protagonists (countries fighting each other)? Is it a full scale war between large countries, some kind of insurgency/guerrila war or a kind of special forces clandestine mission? You can't even start writing your thriller without answering those questions first.
A word of caution: you better be at least reasonably knowledgeable about military weapons, tactics and organizations if you want to write a military thriller. If you know little or nothing about those and try to fudge it, the readers will quickly take you to task and will drop your book at once. The way you asked your questions suggests to me that you don't seem to know much about military matters. I am not saying that to be arrogant but simply to point out that you MUST know your stuff if you want to write a successful military thriller. Many readers are veterans with plenty of military experience and they will slice your book to pieces if you simply try to wing it.
Mod
One of our other 'in-house' authors is currently signed by Simon & Schuster, Not easy to do.
But as I said, there are other in-roads to the objective if someone wants to "hack something out". For instance, you could explore military video games. In-game narratives are a thriving market.
Look into story boarding. Basically a way of visualizing the storyline of your book. If you listen to podcasts, check out the first Joe Rogan episode with Jack Carr. Carr talks a lot about his writing process. Fascinating stuff.
Mod
Mod
https://prewrite.com/
There's many such sites these days to help the aspiring writer. "Critique" sites exist now that were never around before. These are places where hundreds of aspiring writers hang out and post samples of their work; it's social but it's not procrastinating or time-wasting. The purpose is to exchange beta-reads, group reviews, and proofing/editing. It's the quickest and best way to learn how readers react to your work.
critiquecircle.com
absolutewrite.com
Scribophile
WritersDigest.com
Writers-network.com
WritersCafe.org
Feliks wrote: "Seconded. That's a great idea."Thank you , your help is appreciated and noted
Michel wrote: "Galen wrote: "Which kind of weapons should they have ??Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything from Womens cores , to Specia..."
Probably present day , though I do like the Cold War... Late 70s to late 80s
Galen wrote: "Michel wrote: "Galen wrote: "Which kind of weapons should they have ??Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything from Womens co..."
Also I do know a good deal about it , hell I've know alot of people second hand who fought.. just recently I had a friend who got back from fighting in Mariupol for the Ruskies
and I knew a girl who had family fighting the Taliban for a Pro Iranian
Steven wrote: "Can’t go wrong with the classic rogue/bent US SpecOp Operator. Maybe a SEAL/CAG soldier turned by a rogue CIA agent, chasing money/facilitating security for cartel/terror group. That way you can ou..."I've heard of this before...
what is Phoenix Project ??
And see , I'd always see them using local kalash stuff..
even on the DMZ the local monties always used Kalash on the CIA payroll , though I do like the idea of a Kurtz like character
Galen wrote: "Galen wrote: "Michel wrote: "Galen wrote: "Which kind of weapons should they have ??
Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything ..."
Galen, knowing people who fought and knew about war and combat is not the same as having first-person knowledge/experience of combat or military matters. If you choose the 70s/80s as period setting for your novel, then I would counsel the Afghan War when the country was under Soviet occupation. You could then take your fill between your good MC being an Afghan freedom fighter (à la Shah Massoud), an American spec ops guy aiding the Afghan or a CIA Special Activities Division agent. As for bad MCs, you could of course use a Soviet Spetsnaz commando or an Afghan collaborating with the Soviets.
Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything ..."
Galen, knowing people who fought and knew about war and combat is not the same as having first-person knowledge/experience of combat or military matters. If you choose the 70s/80s as period setting for your novel, then I would counsel the Afghan War when the country was under Soviet occupation. You could then take your fill between your good MC being an Afghan freedom fighter (à la Shah Massoud), an American spec ops guy aiding the Afghan or a CIA Special Activities Division agent. As for bad MCs, you could of course use a Soviet Spetsnaz commando or an Afghan collaborating with the Soviets.
Galen, since you seem to want to concentrate on having a 'bad guy' as your MC, I would have another counsel for you, learned from my own experience as a writer: Keep your bad guy main character human and don't depict him as simply a sort of sadistic butcher, like they too often did in Rambo movies. A soldier can be patriotic, brave and efficient but still have moral rules and limits. A thoroughly evil character, even if a top notch soldier, tends to turn off most readers. It is so much more satisfying when you fight against an enemy you can respect.
Mod
The Poetics
Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets from the Greatest Mind in Western Civilization
Michel wrote: "Galen wrote: "Galen wrote: "Michel wrote: "Galen wrote: "Which kind of weapons should they have ??Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups ha..."
"Galen, knowing people who fought and knew about war and combat is not the same as having first-person knowledge/experience of combat or military matters."
mmm , this is true.. fair enough
Michel wrote: "Galen, since you seem to want to concentrate on having a 'bad guy' as your MC, I would have another counsel for you, learned from my own experience as a writer: Keep your bad guy main character hum..."of course , I don't believe in two demotional characters.. I'll leave that for JK Rowling
True...Cartoonishly evil characters are idiotic
Mod
Yes, but there are some exceptions even to the good wisdom expressed in this excellent reminder.
For example, Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage". Or, Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels". Crane had no first-hand experience; not sure about Shaara; but even if Shaara ever saw modern service (Korea or Vietnam) he was still writing about warfare from 150 years in the past and making it fresh.
Maybe the place for a newbie to start is reading the great annals of WWII. Often overlooked these days. "Company Commander" for instance.
And I'd bet anything Galen hasn't tried "All Quiet on the Western Front" yet (WWI). Or, how about Tim O'Brien (Vietnam) or John Trotti. The rubric always runs: "first you read, then you write".
I harken back to what I said at first: successful writing takes a major life commitment.
And even then --even in a mass-market techno-thriller --you can do all the preparation and all the homework you can possibly do, and still fall short if you don't put vivid feelings on the page. In the end, this is what the reader is picking up a novel for. 'Sexy gun details', is something they can get anywhere these days.
Like the saying goes: the most important thing after having a good friend is having a good enemy.
Just felt like giving an update I Tried Scribophile , it's a leftwing shithole
Mod
it seems to be that Wokeness is a parasitic disease consuming all cultural facets.. lol , some idiot asked me a question which was basically like asking "why is this hobby ruined by political correctness" than got angry when it got filled with politics and my going into why I disliked the hobby being ruined by stuff like feminism and LGBT
what a retard
it's like these people have a 20x double standard for everything
https://media.gab.com/system/media_at...
Galen wrote: "it seems to be that Wokeness is a parasitic disease consuming all cultural facets.. lol , some idiot asked me a question which was basically like asking "why is this hobby ruined by political co..."
P.S. dunno how to embed imgs
Mod
I did myself, follow the link to your image though.
Mod
I've had to delete the topic you posted earlier today ('stolen valor garbage').
Read it over a few times first --to see if there was any way I might let it stand --but it just wouldn't fly.
This group only has six rules, (posted on our front page here):
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
1) All book marketing must only be posted under the 'author-promo' discussion folder.
2) Goodreads' authors present in this group must follow the same rules and restrictions as everyone else.
3) We are adults here, so there no hand-holding. Vehement speech is occasionally allowed. Nevertheless, don't descend to 'ad hominem' attack. And if you blow up at someone, take a deep breath, be a man, and make it up. Don't let things 'fester'.
4) Persistent, openly harassing of other members is not permitted.
5) Hindering or sabotaging the normal flow of amiable discussion can result in either temporary or permanent member bans.
6) Remember that it is always easier for a moderator to simply ban any miscreants. Don't 'play chicken' with the mods.
Your post fell under rule #5. There was too much in it which was off-color for most people's tastes.
Galen, you've been okay in this group up until today and I try not to be a heavy-handed moderator. But I wonder if this group is the right place for you. You seem to have a hot temper and get irritated easily.
One disruptive post, okay. But unless you can mellow down, I'll have to toss you out. Most of the people in this group are here to relax; political ranting creates discord. There are other Goodreads groups I can name, where flames are acceptable.
Up to you. You're welcome to stay as long as you chill out and ease up on bashing people who irk you.
Contact me privately to reply, (if you think I'm being dicky). If any back-and-forth erupts in this thread, that'll be a cut-off point.
Mod
--Feliks
Galen Marek wrote:
I'd like to create a Military Thriller book in the same style as the Invasions of 2001 2003 and 1999
How should I do this , which is a good page length..
I Have anxiety so how should I worry about writers block and buildup with grammatical errors with my books
is an editor expensive ?
Feliks Dzerzhinsky (moderator) wrote:
Hi Galen,
This post is essentially the same as your other discussion which is still ongoing, active, alive, and valid in our discussions.
The topic is interesting --but honestly, there only needs to be one such chat.
Editing one's writing is nothing to be anxious about. In today's information-based culture, you have a world of editing resources available to you. I can recommend plenty. I'd be glad to.
But as I remarked earlier (in your other thread) in today's market, 'writing-to-sell', is itself very, very difficult. You have a long road ahead of you.
Previously, I've provided a list of online writer's resources. They were just a few; but they do lead to others, and they are to whom you must turn for further advice. The aspiring writer must cast his net wide, these days.
Sry if I'm sounding very formal here. I don't want you to, "take anything the wrong way". I'm sure we all wish you well in your ambitions. I certainly do. Would be great to see you get on the road to authorship.
On the other hand, this group is not really an, "open chat" -room. We're here to discuss our favorite authors and our favorite books.
Let me propose this: your new thread can stand for a while but then --if you don't mind --would you please post all further, "How do I write" questions, under your existing thread? The first one you made?
Thanks. --Feliks
Galen Marek wrote:
Sure sure ^_^
That is an excellent question. I would suggest you read lots of special ops/spy novels and let your imagination open up.
SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Cargo Security: A Nuts and Bolts Approach (other topics)Poetics (other topics)
Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets From the Greatest Mind in Western Civilization (other topics)
Which kind of equipment and vehicular support should it be...
I've read some Guerrilla groups have everything from Womens cores , to Special Operation Units , to Civilian Police men..
How should I design there uniform ?? Should it be varied based on captured equipment from the enemy or standardized like a regular army with asymmetrical tactics ? should they have tanks and other weapons captured from the enemy ? should they have bulletproof vests ? how much of there equipment is sourced from the black market ?? and so on