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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

Mystery

Writing Cozy Mysteries

March 7, 2014 by Guest Post 8 Comments

How do you plot a mystery? Ask ten different authors, and you’ll get ten different responses. Everyone’s method is unique. However, genre conventions dictate that certain reader expectations must be met. When writing cozy mysteries or traditional mysteries, readers expect a puzzle to solve, an amateur sleuth, a collection of suspects, and an exciting climax … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mystery, Plotting, Writing Craft, Writing Tools Tagged: how to get published with cozy mystery, how to write a mystery novel, writing mysteries, writing the cozy mystery

Six Ways to Add Suspense to a Story

May 2, 2011 by Lori Devoti 2 Comments

You may not write suspense novels. You may not even write mystery or thriller novels, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to add suspense to a story. Any type of book can use the spice of a little, added suspense. And all stories need at least some deadlines and ticking time bombs. There are … [Read more…]

Posted in: By Genre, Mystery, Pacing Tagged: suspense, writing mysteries

Jump start your plot with a MacGuffin

April 28, 2011 by Lori Devoti 1 Comment
MacGuffin plotting mystery

Anyone a fan of The Maltese Falcon? How important is the Maltese Falcon in the story? Well, it’s ALL important and in the end, not important at all. The item itself turns out to have no real value to anyone—but what makes it important is it gets the characters and thus the plot moving! The … [Read more…]

Posted in: By Genre, Mystery, Plotting, Writing Craft Tagged: goal, macguffin, plotting, two dogs one bone

Featured Book

The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
by Christopher Vogler

The Writer’s Journey explores the relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style.

Want help plotting great stories that grab readers?

The Writer’s Journey is on our MUST read list.

Get at Amazon

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Featured Book

Save The Cat!
by Blake Snyder

A book on screenwriting that is great for novelists too! Another must have for your How To Write library.

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