#268. 5 Thriller Mistakes That Weaken Suspense (& How to Fix Them)

You’ve finished the first draft of your thriller, and it has plenty of action. But when you read it back, it’s not as gripping as you’d hoped, and it’s hard to say why. Usually, the problem isn’t a lack of danger or objectively high stakes. It’s often a mistake (or two) that drains the suspense, and those are really hard to spot from inside your own draft. In this episode, I’m going to walk you through the five most common thriller mistakes I’ve seen in first drafts, why each one weakens suspense, and a question you can ask to spot each mistake in your own pages.  〰️ In This Episode: [02:50] What makes a thriller feel flat, even when it’s packed with action [07:05] Why high stakes don’t always make readers care (and what’s usually missing) [10:00] How to tell if your protagonist is too reactive (and why this matters) [13:30] What happens when the danger doesn't grow, complicate, and escalate [18:35] Why withholding information from readers can backfire and weaken suspense 〰️ Links Mentioned: Get The Revision Accelerator How to Write a Novel That Hooks Readers Through Curiosity (Not Confusion) 〰️ Other Episodes You’ll Love: The 6 Scenes Every Thriller Novel Needs Red Herrings: How to Mislead & Surprise Readers 5 Questions To Develop Better Antagonists 〰️ Ask Savannah a question Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and follow the show! Your support helps this podcast reach more writers who need these actionable tips and insights. 〰️ More Resources:  Live Training: Learn why you keep getting stuck and how to finally finish your novel. Revision Accelerator: Identify your draft's biggest problems and make a plan to fix them. Podcast Playlist: Get 10 episodes to help you reach your next big writing goal. 〰️ Follow for more writing tips: Instagram | savannahgilbo.com