Common Thriller Archetypes (Character Types)

I'm going over a bunch of common/popular archetypes in thrillers to help those of you out there writing or revising. They are in no particular order and cover a breadth of character functions, including main characters, antagonists, love interests, and more.

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[alejandrarodriguez]

"Most of the times, people with anxiety will write characters with anxiety"
*me realising all my main characters have anxiety*

[KitKatWiffleBallBat]

Alexa, I was conflicted when I first watched your videos. I don't remember which video it was, but you had commented that dream sequences were over done clichés---oh but it didn't stop there---you mentioned that going through a character's day, was also overdone and boring. In one felled swoop, you had smashed my first actual writing project to pieces. I was upset and heart broken...BUT THEN, I really thought about it, and you were so totally right!

My new opening for my graphic novel is a cold open where the two main characters find themselves in a dangerous falling situation. I won't go into more details, but it made me rewrite it! And I love it even more than my old opening. (Which I've decided wasn't entirely scrapped because it's something that we can visit later in the story, once the appropriate time arrives, of course.

Anyway, not too over do this comment, (too late!) I have only you to thank. I wasn't mad at you, no. I was mad at myself. "I'm better than this!" I told myself. I can't thank you and your advice enough for it.

One day I'll share my work with you, if ever you're interested. I don't think I can make money with it, but it's the story I want to tell. I will give it away for free, gladly. I just want to pour my heart and soul into it and see what I can do.

Take care and be safe! (P.s I will take a look at your books and see which one I want to buy, cause I need new reading material.)

[butiamjustaperson]

I just finish Brightly Burning and I'm on to The Stars We Steal and Oh. My. I normally hate romance books but I actually enjoyed it a lot!!!

[Pizza_Party]

Hello!
I just wanted to say that you have a very nice voice. It's very pleasant to listen to^^

[TheThreeBookshelves]

tired of the substance-abusive unreliable narrator. I wish writers would stop relying on their protagonists getting too stoned or drunk to remember anything. It’s just lazy writing.

[emilyestelle]

I feel like my town is ripe to be the inspiration for a scary thriller.

[belletoro]

Who writes thrillers? Raise your hand!

[uncleanunicorn]

The smaller the town, the more horrible the secret. X-Files taught me that.

[sonderracha]

i’m sorry you had to suffer through Frey, but i am loving all the thriller content

[aimeewoodworks]

My goodness so many ads! Why were there so many ads???? Great video Alexa

[Supvia]

Hi Alexa, can you do a video on how to master multi PoV?

[Jackfrom]

Oh! The professor. This person isn't the investigator, but they aren't normal. They have a very specific area of interest. We all know who I'm talking about 😅😅. Great video, to Alexa, from Alexa.

[ClefairyFairySnowflake]

It's always interesting to learn more about the different genres! Great video! Have an amazing day!

[andrewdifederico]

That last one.... Have you been looking over my shoulder? I didn't even know it was a trope

[Ladyxce]

This actually helped me categorize my characters 🤣 thank you 🙌🏽

[thenumbertwo]

Drinking game: take a shot every time Alexa says 'texture' in this video.

Seriously though this was really helpful!! Thank you!

[VickiPetterssonAuthor]

And the Everyman/Everywoman archetype. I love writing that because the reader can more easily see themselves in him/her. Draw them in, make them relate, then pile on the trauma. :)

[sararea]

Hello, thank you for all your videos!🙏🏻 Could you please to a video about writing a series, or writing so that making it a series can be an option.?? Pretty please😁😁

[wattpadusergeek]

Awesome video, as always. Haven’t written a thriller yet, but I like character driven stories and exploring different archetypes. This was fun.

[DreamlessNights]

I liked this video a lot! The unreliable substance addicted narrator is a big one. Could you make a video of YA Thrillers that follow these archetypes or other YA thriller archetypes?