How Do You Write a Thriller When Everyone's Stuck in Their Seats? | Susan Walter

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Previously titled “Writing the Locked-Room Thriller: Susan Walter on Persistence and the "Enclosed Capsule" Challenge” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 4, 2026

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Recorded17 Feb 2026

Publisherfeed.podbean.com ↗

Handlerec:15955121

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How do you keep a story moving when your characters are physically stuck in their seats? Film director turned novelist Susan Walter breaks down the "Enclosed Capsule Challenge" and the technical hurdles of setting a thriller on a plane. In this episode: The Persistence Mindset: Why Susan never takes "no" for an answer—a lesson from her pilot father that defined her career. Character over Pace: Why she chose a slow-burn build to create deeper stakes for the reader. The 85,000-Word Mental Map: Susan’s unique gift for holding a massive, complex narrative in her head without losing the thread. Reader Clarity: The clever naming tricks she uses to help readers track a large cast of characters. The Moral Dilemma: Exploring the "ends justify the means" theme at the heart of the book. Susan Walter's book Murder at 30,000 Feet: https://a.co/d/04tyglhl Follow Susan online: https://www.susanwalterwriter.com/ Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors. https://patreon.com/markpjnadon Today's Sponsor Mark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers Authors: Want to be a guest? Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon: • https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/ Follow on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markpjnadon_thrillerauthor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

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