The essential pieces of a mystery novel

Posted on May 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

At its simplest, a mystery novel is a puzzle. But as Zara Altair points out, there are certain features to...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Zara Altair

Ensure that your book's dialogue moves the story along

Posted on April 9, 2021 at 9:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We recently shared a post on the importance of dialogue, and we’ll follow up with more advice from another source....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Dialogue, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Take your novel from base sentence to complete draft

Posted on March 23, 2021 at 3:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Some writers make a seamless transition from nugget of inspiration to reality. Others may be open to advice on the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writing advice, Zara Altair

How to establish your author voice

Posted on January 29, 2021 at 2:54 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 January 2, 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 December 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 December 16, 2020 at 3:00 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 November 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 October 29, 2020 at 3:16 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 October 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