Thriller Writer’s Journal – An Introduction

Michael Balter

1 Jul, 2023

Thriller Writer’s Journal – An Introduction

What’s it like to write a novel? And what does it take to get it published?

Join me on a journey through the trials and tribulations of writing and publishing my debut novel. From the first word to the finished product, I’ll take you along the winding path of my creative process in this thriller writer’s journal.

My author’s journey began in December 2018, when I penned the first page of my thriller novel, Chasing Money. It follows the story of two entrepreneurs whose start-up is hanging by a thread when their business partner is murdered at an investor pitch meeting. The Russian mob wants a cool $10 million and a painting that’s gone missing – if they don’t get it, the heroes will suffer the same fate as their partner.

Michael Balter - author - at the cafe where he writes his thrillers
Michael Balter at work on his novel, Chasing Money, at Harwood Gold cafe in Charlevoix, MI.

Writing the first draft of my thriller

Finding the right words to tell my story was a slow and laborious process. It took me more than two years to complete the first draft. I struggled with everything from point of view to plot and characters. I wrote and revised and ripped up and wrote again. I sought feedback from trusted sources – friends, family, and even a book coach – and incorporated their insights into new revisions. Along the way, I saved notes and feedback that would later become the foundation for this Thriller Writer’s Journal. Follow my steps from beginning to completion of the first draft in these posts.

Polishing and revising my manuscript

Finishing the first draft of my book was a significant accomplishment, but the real work began after that. Over the course of a year, I edited, revised, and polished the manuscript until I was satisfied with the final product. When I look back at the initial version now, I’m appalled by its flaws. It’s no wonder that agents weren’t eager to represent me.

After setting the book aside for a year, I returned to it in 2023 with fresh eyes and a new perspective. One final round of revisions, including a major change, allowed me to bring the story to its full potential. It was a challenging process, but I’m proud of the result and excited to share it with readers.

Finding a publisher for my debut novel

The path to publishing my debut novel has been filled with roadblocks and setbacks. From the beginning, I had set my sights on traditional publishing, but the process of finding an agent and securing a book deal proved to be an uphill battle. Begging agents to take a look at my book felt demeaning. At one point, I was so discouraged that I put my completed manuscript away and stopped writing altogether.

It wasn’t until I received a glimmer of hope from two independently published authors that I found the courage to try a new approach. I knew that going it alone would be too overwhelming, so I opted for a hybrid publishing model. With the support of a team of professionals, I’ve been able to perfect my manuscript and prepare it for publication in September. Learn more about my publishing journey in these posts:

A candid admission about my thriller writer’s journal

Let me be frank – I didn’t keep a daily account of my thoughts while writing Chasing Money. I was too busy writing, and I’m also not that organized. But I did correspond with a range of people – beta readers, book coaches, friends, and family. My lovely wife, Suzanne, helped me sift through old emails, text messages, and versions of my book to reconstruct my writing process after the fact. She used that material to draft these posts, which I read and revised in between writing sessions for the next book in my Marty and Bo thriller series.

There are more than twenty posts completed so far, but we still have plenty more material to share. Our hope is to eventually create a free e-book for aspiring writers and those who are curious about my writing journey. When we do, I’ll be crediting Suzanne as my co-author.

If you have any questions about my writing process or topics we haven’t yet covered, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to hear from you and share this journey with you. So, come along and let’s explore the making of Chasing Money together.

Michael

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Winner - 2023 Best Indie Book Award - Crime Thriller. Chasing Money. Get it now. Paperback, Audible & Kindle Unlimited. "A gritty, heart-pounding thriller that grabs you from the first page and won't let you get away."