Harlan Coben: Tough Love Advice for Every Writer | How I Write

Harlan Coben, author of 38 novels, details the mechanics of writing suspenseful fiction, emphasizing that the "what if" question serves as the foundational engine for both plot and character development. Rather than viewing mystery as a rigid genre, he treats it as a flexible form that requires emotional resonance to succeed. Writers must treat their craft as a disciplined job, maintaining a regular life to fuel the "violent and original" nature of their work. Key insights include the necessity of "killing your darlings" through aggressive editing, the importance of dialogue as a tool for character revelation, and the belief that a writer's primary goal is to communicate with a reader. Coben also highlights the distinction between the interiority of novels and the visual requirements of television adaptations, advocating for creative freedom when translating stories across mediums.