Review: Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot by Jane K. Cleland

To continue preparing to write the next book in my series, I chose a craft book dedicated to plot structure with an emphasis on suspense and twists. Rather than being targeted to one genre, the book ensures that all of the writing advice can be applied to any genre, from political thrillers to nonfiction memoirs.

Cleland doesn’t just “lecture” about the proper way to do things. The book includes activities, case studies, and suggestions for ways to create a tight story from character development and plot structure down to the individual sentence level.

This book is accessible to new authors while still being helpful to those who are more experienced, with multiple projects under their belts. I look forward to using some of the recommended exercises and suggestions to craft my next story. 

Rating: 4 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.