by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
The first novel I’m writing, at the moment at least, probably doesn’t fit safely within the “thriller” genre for no other reason than it’s just not dark enough. It’s just not my nature to write about dark, scary things. But I am well aware of the expectations of thriller genre readers.
So, as such, at some point in the process of writing this novel, I’m probably going to have to give significant thought to amping the darkness up significantly. As it stands, I have an interesting, intriguing story that will keep you reading…but I’m not so sure it’s really as dark and twisted as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
It is because of one specific scene in The Girl With Dragon Tattoo — if you’ve read the book, you immediately know which one I’m talking about — that makes it both extremely engaging and extremely problematic. The scene is what gets you hooked for the fate of Lisbeth Salander because you find yourself really caring about her. And, yet, the scene is so horrible, you feel kind of traumatized having been exposed to it in the first place.
I have a few ideas as to how to am up the twisted, dark nature of this novel, but it’s not going to come easy. People are just too quick to make assumptions about you if you write something too terribly dark and twisted in your novels and people already think I’m bonkers.
It’s going to be a real struggle to flesh out the potentially darker elements of this story. I already been squeamish writing a specific scene which isn’t even all that bad — there’s no sex or gore — but I was kind of nervous that audience members, especially women, might be turned off by the implications of what was going on.
But, lulz, everyone — so far — that I’ve mentioned the scene to were blase. Only time will tell. I do know the general conceit of this six novel writing project is really, really good. But I’m going to have to focus on taking things to the next level by making it clear that I’m writing thrillers.
