--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To write a damn good thriller, you need a…" description: "\"To write a damn good thriller, you need a killer attitude.\" — James Frey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png" --- # To write a damn good thriller, you need a killer attitude. ![“To write a damn good thriller, you need a killer attitude.” quote by James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png) > “To write a damn good thriller, you need a killer attitude.” [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A compelling thriller requires a bold, confident mindset that drives the narrative forward. **In simple terms:** A thriller needs confidence. Key Takeaway Adopt a fearless, decisive approach. Themes confidence writing thriller mindset Mood determined energetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - Plot development - character creation - marketing - audience engagement Key Concepts Narrative drive character conviction Questions to Reflect On - How does confidence shape plot tension? - When can it become a flaw? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can alienate readers if not balanced with depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn/) [Damn good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-good/) [Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer/) [Killer Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer-attitude-225142/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Need Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-killer-1060461/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller/) [Thriller Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller-need-1060460/) [Thrillers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrillers/) [Write Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-damn-478019/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When you're making a psychological thriller, what you need to do is have an audience on shifting sand so they're never quite sure where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/when-you-re-making-a-psychological-thriller-what-you-need-to-do-is/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [If I am unhappy, I can write "damn it" in my personal diary, but I can't do that on a microblog so I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fan-bingbing/if-i-am-unhappy-i-can-write-damn-it-in-my-personal-diary-but-i-can-t/) [Fan Bingbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fan-bingbing/) > [The only way to write is well and how you do it is your own damn business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling/the-only-way-to-write-is-well-and-how-you-do-it-is-your-own-damn/) [A. J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling/) > [I'll write whatever I damn please, whenever I damn please and as I damn please and it'll be good if the authentic spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/i-ll-write-whatever-i-damn-please-whenever-i-damn-please-and-as-i/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [“Write it, damn you, write it! What else are you good for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/write-it-damn-you-write-it-what-else-are-you-good-for/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Improvise. Write your own damn story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lange/improvise-write-your-own-damn-story/) [Eric Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lange/) > [“I'm not trying to please anyone. I'm just trying to write a damn book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-denney/i-m-not-trying-to-please-anyone-i-m-just-trying-to-write-a-damn-book/) [Richard Denney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-denney/) > [Can a selfish egocentric jealous and unimaginative female write a damn thing worthwhile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/can-a-selfish-egocentric-jealous-and-unimaginative-female-write-a/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Once you realize just the sort of glut of books that exists out there, it does become incumbent on you not to add to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/once-you-realize-just-the-sort-of-glut-of-books-that-exists-out-there/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [“I'm not usually good, but when i am, i'm goddamn good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-m-not-usually-good-but-when-i-am-i-m-goddamn-good/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Ana come on, I thought we had a damn good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/ana-come-on-i-thought-we-had-a-damn-good-thing/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [“There is no other way," she insisted. "Nothing else but to use you as bait? Madness!" "Don't make me say it." "Say what?" Wolf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/there-is-no-other-way-she-insisted-nothing-else-but-to-use-you-as/) [Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/) > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [“Writing is like a relationship. When it is good, it is damn good; when it is bad, you contemplate murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevea-lane/writing-is-like-a-relationship-when-it-is-good-it-is-damn-good-when/) [Nevea Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevea-lane/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) ## More by James Frey > [“It is a touching story, and it is written more to convince than to tell. I am not convinced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/it-is-a-touching-story-and-it-is-written-more-to-convince-than-to/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [But love is different for every person. For some it's hate, for some it's joy, for some it's fear, for some it's jealousy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/but-love-is-different-for-every-person-for-some-it-s-hate-for-some-it/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“I close my eyes and I let my body shut itself down and I let my mind wander. It wanders to a familiar place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-close-my-eyes-and-i-let-my-body-shut-itself-down-and-i-let-my-mind/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [He pulled out turned west and started driving towards the glow it was thousands of miles away, he started driving towards the glow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/he-pulled-out-turned-west-and-started-driving-towards-the-glow-it-was/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“Addiction is a decision. An individual wants something, whatever that something is, and makes a desicion to get it. Once they have it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/addiction-is-a-decision-an-individual-wants-something-whatever-that/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“I start to cry. Tears begin running down my face and quiet sobs escape me. 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If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-something-you-must-first-expand-it/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [The book is about drug addiction and alcoholism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/the-book-is-about-drug-addiction-and-alcoholism/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [And even though people try to pretend that pain doesn't do anything to them, none of us can really handle it. Everything bad we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/and-even-though-people-try-to-pretend-that-pain-doesn-t-do-anything/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [You don't have to follow anybody's rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/you-don-t-have-to-follow-anybody-s-rules/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [I don't care what people come at me with. People have come at me with everything you could imagine. I could care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-care-what-people-come-at-me-with-people-have-come-at-me-with/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [“There is no Higher Power or any God who is responsible for what I do and for what I have done and for who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/there-is-no-higher-power-or-any-god-who-is-responsible-for-what-i-do/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) [Explore all 288 James Frey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To write a damn good thriller, you need a killer attitude.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Frey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a-killer-attitude/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a-killer-attitude/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-frey-1108_attitude_to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a_2500904.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To write a damn good thriller, you need a killer attitude.” — James Frey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Frey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To write a damn good thriller,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a-killer-attitude/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/to-write-a-damn-good-thriller-you-need-a-killer-attitude/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```