3. Understand structure.
Many of the Parker books are organized around a four-part structure. The first two parts are from Parker's perspective. The third offers multiple viewpoints of a critical plot turn. The final portion wraps things up, again from inside Parker's head. It's a particularly effective technique. The third-person limited perspective keeps everything focused and leaves little room for extraneous business. The late-in-the-game breakout from the protagonist's perspective allows the author to ramp up the suspense by dramatising conflicts that Parker can't foresee.
4. Don't be afraid to change your style.
Westlake has said that he once grew frustrated with a draft in which Parker kept losing the thing he was trying to steal. Rather than bull his way through a book that wasn't working, Westlake decided to turn it into a comedy, thereby creating his long-running character John Dortmunder, who first appeared in The Hot Rock.
5. If you don't work to avoid obsolescence, you may wind up having to kill someone to keep working.
Although not published with the Stark pen-name, The Ax is one of the bleakest novels Westlake has ever written. The tale of a middle-aged middle-manager who strikes back against downsizing by killing off his competitors, The Ax is cautionary tale for anyone who has become too complacent about their job security.
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