How Success Happens

Snack Break: ThrillerFest!

Mar 22, 2026
Kimberly Howell, award-winning author and executive director of International Thriller Writers, unveils the inner workings of ThrillerFest and its community. She breaks down PitchFest tips and crafting a 30-second logline. Hear about daily writing routines, research-driven storytelling, and current trends favoring domestic and psychological suspense.
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ANECDOTE

ThrillerFest Feels Like Writers Summer Camp

  • ThrillerFest feels like summer camp for writers with a tight-knit, collegial vibe.
  • Kimberly Howell described authors like Lee Child mingling in hallways and no green room to force integration and mentoring.
ADVICE

Research Intensively When You Write Beyond Experience

  • Do immerse yourself in research when writing outside your experience rather than relying on 'write what you know'.
  • Howell researched kidnapping by reading extensively, meeting top negotiators, and interviewing former hostages to write convincingly.
ADVICE

Read More And Write Every Day

  • Do read avidly and write consistently to develop craft; reading teaches story mechanics by osmosis.
  • Howell recommends daily writing (even 15 minutes) and early-morning sessions before distractions to let subconscious work on plots.
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