Make sure your reader wants to solve your mystery

Posted on 08/22/2019 at 04:37 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Zara Altair wants to ensure your reader is just as invested as your sleuth is in solving the mystery in...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

What to expect when basing a novel on real-life drama

Posted on 08/13/2019 at 03:43 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Stephanie Kane knows, from experience, the risks and rewards of using real-life events as inspiration for fiction. Her novel Quiet...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

Start your mystery out strong

Posted on 08/06/2019 at 04:24 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

It’s a toss-up whether the beginning or ending of a story is the toughest part to write. But there’s no...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Writing advice

The four acts of your mystery plot

Posted on 07/30/2019 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writers who seek middle ground between full-blown outlines and complete improvisation have another option. Zara Altair compares the four-act structure...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

What a detective wants crime writers to know

Posted on 06/03/2019 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Joanna Penn has another expert interview, this time with a police detective. Adam Richardson, in addition to working in the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Joanna Penn, Mystery

Who's the pivotal character in a mystery novel?

Posted on 05/05/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Zara Altair makes a keen observation about the mystery novel: While the detective/sleuth is generally the hero, the victim might...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Mystery, Writing advice

Guidelines for the mystery, crime, and thriller genres

Posted on 03/15/2019 at 10:30 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Mystery, crime, thriller — the three genres are often spoken of interchangeably, but there are subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences as...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

Creating a wiki for your crime novel

Posted on 01/12/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writing advice, when it comes to world-building, often focuses on science fiction and fantasy. That said, copy editor/proofreader Louise Harnby...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Writing advice

The character your mystery novels need

Posted on 10/31/2018 at 10:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

If you’re new to writing mysteries, Zara Altair wants to introduce you to an important character with whom you might...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Mystery, Writing advice

You don't have to commit a crime to write authentic mysteries

Posted on 10/08/2018 at 10:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

“Write what you know” is all well and good if you’re not a law-abiding citizen who’s also a crime author....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Writing advice