Mind over monster: The many roles of memory in a thriller novel

Posted on 05/05/2021 at 10:40 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

What does an acclaimed thriller writer think has the greatest fear potential in a novel? The answer will vary, of...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

What to consider about your crime novel's setting

Posted on 04/28/2021 at 01:30 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Setting may not be the first issue a writer thinks about when it comes to working on a crime novel....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Setting, Thriller, Writer's Digest

How your novel's bad guy can also be the good guy

Posted on 04/16/2021 at 09:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Most of the advice we’ve shared in regards to writing about criminals has assumed that the criminal is the villain....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Mystery, Thriller, Writer Unboxed

Tips for writing red herrings that don't stink

Posted on 04/15/2021 at 09:23 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Mystery novelists have to walk a special tightrope. Make the culprit too obvious and readers won’t have a reason to...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Writer's Digest

A bestselling author's primer on thriller pacing

Posted on 04/02/2021 at 09:09 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Both a mystery and a thriller — if done well — make a reader eager to complete the book and...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Writing advice

You don't have to be a spy to write a good spy thriller

Posted on 04/01/2021 at 01:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Alma Katsu spent thirty-five years working in the intelligence community, and no doubt that experience helped her write her most...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Thriller, Writer's Digest

Quick tips on writing mysteries and thrillers

Posted on 02/27/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’ve mentioned before that we like to sprinkle in easy-to-digest writing advice amongst the deeper dives. Here’s an instance of...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

What makes it a psychological thriller?

Posted on 02/24/2021 at 03:59 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The psychological thriller genre found author Sebastian Fitzek, rather than the other way around. But in the time since he...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Thriller, Writer's Digest

7 suggestions (not mandates) for crime novels

Posted on 02/19/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

After nearly forty novels (and bestseller status), author Dana Stabenow has an idea of what works. That said, she open...

Categories: Behind the scenes

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

The differences between mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels

Posted on 10/25/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

So your novel has unanswered questions and heightened tensions. Does that make it a mystery, thriller, or suspense novel? Zara...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Zara Altair