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When writing a technothriller novel, how does the writer set up and develop the plot and refine it?
The plot can be based on one central idea. Then, it can evolve from that point, as the writing progresses.
Others will start with the idea and map out the plot in detail, before writing. That can be seen as formulaic. Once the plot is mapped out in detail, then one view might be that it becomes writing by numbers. Keen readers will see these patterns in many techno thriller novels.
My preferred approach is to start out with a central idea, and let the story develop itself. With 'Gate of Tears' it was the extraction of gold from seawater.
Of course, that way, you don't know how it will end up. With thrillers most writers will know that the main character will survive. Why let him or her live? Well, it enables them to use the character in a sequel. Obvious.
'Gate of Tears' is set mainly in the Middle East, where the Strait known as the 'Bab el Mandeb' - 'Gate of Tears' - guards the southern entrance to the Red Sea. There is action in Alaska and Australia besides the Yemen, and in many ways the geography helped the plot development. It would probably be more difficult for me to write a thriller novel that was set in a fairly constrained environment - say a prison.
Then there are other challenges. How does a writer deal with a stage in the story where a character has come to an impossible situation? Well, firstly, the author backtracks. 'Unwriting' is, for me, a copout and also loses an opportunity for further plot intrigue. So, I wait and think, and sometimes it takes a few weeks to resolve the situation (even by adding in some relevant context earlier in the book). I'll take a notebook and go for a walk. And another walk.
Another issue is 'what happens next'?
A writer could do use Luke Rhinehart's device in 'The Diceman' - identify some options and then throw the dice to see which scores most. That's an interesting way of moving the plot forward. I don't know how it worked for me, the ideas just came, though I did sometimes consider options.
A fairly recent approach is to let the readers decide, issuing a few chapters at a time and inviting reader comments. I don't favour that.
Technology Input
With techno thrillers there are other ways of plot development, because the technology itself can tell a story. And, then, when you get down to it, the writer can extrapolate existing technology. I have a defence equipment blog feed which I follow, and that unearths new technology for me. Then, recently on the television I saw the new Honda robot which can hop on one leg and pour a drink. It was scary, and the weapons possibilities are disturbing (or not - maybe they'd save lives). It's not sci-fi anymore - it's here.
These techniques all help the plot develop , whilst allowing room for creativity. My favourite though, is when I tell the main character 'Now, get out of that"!
