In horror or thriller books and movies, people always have this desire to escape the killer. I think that people, in general, feel the need to escape their captor. And this normal human condition is how I start when with writing. I first start with thinking about the character, and even though they will want to escape, I chose at the beginning of the book whether or not they will escape. Once I know this, I know how much effort the person will put in to get to the desired escape or how much effort will be lost. Take my first published book. I use this idea of the need for escape and play on the mental state of the captive. This play creates a world of a fight between wanted to survive and wanting to leave. Interestingly, the need for survival, even if the person wishes for escape, can play a role in whether or not the person does escape.
If you are interested in knowing more, read my book Escapees.
