How to establish your author voice

Posted on 01/29/2021 at 02:54 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A reader who loves an author’s work may not always be able to articulate what, in particular, they find so...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writing advice, Zara Altair

Strive for imperfection with your protagonist

Posted on 01/02/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

No need to set New Year’s resolutions for your protagonists — they’re more relatable and realistic if they have flaws....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Zara Altair

Don't neglect one part of your mystery in favor of another

Posted on 12/27/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The detective and the crime, in a mystery novel, are like peanut butter and jelly. Each is intriguing on its...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Zara Altair

Zara Altair on telling time in novels

Posted on 12/16/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The amorphous nature of time during a lockdown-heavy pandemic has replaced the weather as a favorite small-talk starter this year....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writing advice, Zara Altair

How to make writing feel fun again

Posted on 11/26/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A writing career, in the best of times, feels like a calling or a passion that happens to pay. But...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Motivational, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Challenge your detective's morals to deepen your story

Posted on 10/29/2020 at 03:16 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Solving the crime shouldn’t be the only challenge your mystery novel’s protagonist faces. Zara Altair suggests giving your detective a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Mystery, Zara Altair

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

How to keep your mystery's momentum going

Posted on 09/18/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Does your mystery feel saggy in the middle? Zara Altair says that’s common — and can be fixed or avoided....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Zara Altair

Tips for writing compelling and realistic dialogue

Posted on 09/08/2020 at 11:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’ve all been at a loss for words (some of us more often than others). How about your characters? Do...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Use detail judiciously to bring your story's setting alive

Posted on 07/21/2020 at 10:21 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The setting of your story may seem as real as the room you’re physically in, as you’re writing. But how...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writing advice, Zara Altair