Ask Gillian Flynn and Megan Abbott discussion

Both authors are now known as great suspense writers. I'm curious if that was something each of you set out to be? Was suspense always the genre that drew you in as a reader? What are the particular challenges of writing in this genre?

Assuming that you've each read at least some of the others' books: in the spirit of "imitation being the sincerest form of flattery" (maybe especially w/ writers?)--is there any particular characteristic of the other's work, a technique or something that she does especially well, that you'd most want to 'steal' from the other if you could? ;-)

Patrick wrote: "Both authors are now known as great suspense writers. I'm curious if that was something each of you set out to be? Was suspense always the genre that drew you in as a reader? What are the particula..."

Patrick--I really didn't set out in any particular direction, though suspense has been the kind of rippling curtain in my reading life since I was a kid, reading Lois Duncan, Shirley Jackson, true-crime, etc. I think one of the challenges, and rewards, are the intense engagement with the reader that these novels require. You are so close to the reader/writer--it only works if you are. As a writer, I need the reader to be with me, to care passionately about the "what next," to feel like my narrator is whispering in his or he ear. Those are the books I love to read! (Gone Girl being a prime example.)

Megan wrote: "You are so close to the reader/writer..."

That's a fantastic observation regarding the "relationship" between reader and writer. At the point of the reader reading, the reader and writer are one. Of course, it a "first time" experience for the reader and the aftermath of a zillion edits and rewrites for the writer - in order to make the magic happen:)

Jim wrote: "Megan wrote: "You are so close to the reader/writer..."

That's a fantastic observation regarding the "relationship" between reader and writer. At the point of the reader reading, the reader and wr..."

Thank you, Jim! And that's absolutely true. And there's the opposite danger that can come after working too intently with the draft, so you lose the "live-ness" of it. Often that happens for me and I have to set it aside long enough to return to it as reader again...to see what feels overworked and what feels (hopefully) like that longed-for whisper in the ear quality!

I love reading suspense book