Thriller Writing Made Easy

From Writer's Digest blog by Zachary Petit

Want to write a thriller, but stuck on the beginning? Novelist Daniel Palmer uses his own experience and that of his father (bestseller Michael Palmer) and lays out the essentials to get you on your way.

Step 1. Choose your rhino.
Michael Palmer once was asked to describe writing a book. His answer? Writing a book is like following a recipe for rhinoceros stew. The first step of which is to find the rhino—which isn’t your plot, character or hook. It’s that huge idea that defines the book, such as a deadly virus. Daniel’s latest rhino was identity theft.

Step 2. Formulate the What-If question.
Daniel said to think of this essentially as your elevator pitch—that pithy, snappy description of your book you should have at the ready should you be stuck in an elevator with an agent or editor. Cap it at two sentences, 25 words. It needs to be as tight as possible, and it shouldn’t delve into things like characters or plot twists. “I spend days doing those two sentences, and I would urge you to do the same with yours,” Daniel said.

One What-If example from Michael’s work: What if everybody involved in a surgery six years ago is being murdered one by one?

Step 3. Answer the What-If question.
The answer to this pivotal question is what’s known as the MacGuffin: the reason people think they’re reading the book. (MacGuffins can be a confusing subject, but they’re key.) Ultimately, Daniel said the answer is that it doesn’t matter—people read to the end of a book for the characters. But you need something to keep them flipping pages. The MacGuffin is simply that tool that gets them to stay with the characters.

Daniel said when you have the answer to your What-If, you should file it away and forget about it for a while. If you focus solely on the MacGuffin, your book will be plot-heavy and bogged down by it, and you’ll have lost your readers.

Step 4. Figure out who you’re going to write about.
“You’re looking for your character who’s got the absolute most at stake, and that’s the person who you want your story to be about.” Daniel said to develop your arc as they go along, chasing the MacGuffin, and they’ll change and grow.

BONUS: Step 5. Write on.
Daniel likes to think of plot as a “cannibal’s stew”—a simmering cauldron into which you drop your character in. Once he’s inside, it boils. But you don’t have your character simply jump out—you slam a lid on the cauldron and nail it shut so your character has to figure out how to survive the plot.

35 Empowering Questions Leaders Ask

From http://kimberlygleasoncoaching.com/2012/07/35-empowering-questions-leaders-ask/?goback=%2Egde_1878448_member_132586121

by KIMBERLY Gleason on JULY 10, 2012

As an executive and leadership coach, I have been trained in the art and power of asking good, thought provoking questions. For leaders who care about not just their organization’s success, but also the success of those they lead, here are thirty-five. And by the way, listening is required!

1. What do you think about that?
2. What would you do if you were in my situation?
3. How will you accomplish that?
4. What’s your plan and timeframe?
5. What parts of this plan/project/idea are you most passionate or enthusiastic about?
6. What are your strengths or talents that either one of us is not leveraging?
7. What should be the measures of success for this plan/project/idea?
8. What motivates you the most?
9. What new ideas do you have?
10. What do you think this company or our team needs?
11. What are we missing?
12. What were you hoping to accomplish that you haven’t been able to do thus far?
13. How do (or don’t) our values align with our organization’s vision and mission?
14. What do you wish we would do more of or less of?
15. If I could be doing something differently as a leader, what would I be doing?
16. What’s keeping you here?
17. What opportunities should we be exploring?
18. What part in this plan/project/idea would you like? 
19. What could we be doing better?
20. How would you like me to lead you or this team?
21. How will I know this objective has been accomplished?
22. How will I know if you need assistance?
23. What resources do you need from me?
24. What makes you feel engaged?
25. If you could be doing anything in our organization right now, what would you be doing?
26. What do you need to be successful?
27. Who can help you?
28. What resources are you not utilizing?
29. What should you be delegating, and to whom?
30. If you could learn more about anything that would help you or the organization become more successful, what would you learn?
31. What time of day do you work best?
32. When do you most feel a part of the team?
33. What makes you feel valued and appreciated?
34. What kind of feedback would you find helpful?
35. What makes you feel empowered to do your best?

Try asking a few of these questions the next time you meet with a colleague or direct report. You may surprise them, but you will make them feel valued and appreciated.

6 Steps to Create Marketing Personas for Your Org | Inspiring Generosity

6 Steps to Create Marketing Personas for Your Org | Inspiring Generosity: "6 Steps to Create Marketing Personas for Your Org"

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1. Define your segments
2. Define Demographics

Where do they live?
What gender are they?
What level of education have they achieved?
What is their income?
What is their marital status?
Do they have kids?

3.  Articulate their values and beliefs

What are their passions and interests?

What are their dreams and goals?

Are they politically conservative or liberal?

What are their personality characteristics?

What motivates them to share information with others?

4.  Get under their skin

What’s their self-image?

What are their day-to-day worries and goals?

How are they trying to create a meaningful life?

What behaviors are they trying to change?

5.  Define the value they get from your organization

6.  Give them a face and a name