• Writing Business
    • Agents & Editors
    • Finding Writing Markets
    • Indie Publishing
    • Marketing
    • Market Trends
    • Quirky Links
    • Web Design
    • Writing for the Web
  • Writing Craft
    • By Genre
      • Romance
      • Young Adult Teen
    • Characters
    • First Pages
    • Grammar
    • Pacing
    • Plotting
    • Point of View
    • Revision
    • Scenes
    • Worldbuilding
    • Writing Prompts
    • Writing Tips
  • Writing Life
    • Author Interviews
    • Conferences
    • Critiques
    • Inspiration
    • Making a Living
  • Writing Tools
    • Book Reviews
    • eBooks
      • Dialogue More than Just Talk ebook
    • Online Writing Tools
    • Writing Software Programs
  • About
    • Contact
    • Regular Columnists
    • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Services
    • Editorial Services
How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

writing mysteries

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

The Author’s Crystal Ball of Suspense: Foreshadowing

April 25, 2011 by Kathy Steffen 2 Comments

Foreshadowing pays off if you do it right (and really falls flat if you don’t.) Think of foreshadowing as planting subtle clues for the reader of something that is going to happen later in the story—that something being of major importance.

Posted in: Plotting, Writing Craft, Writing Tips Tagged: adding suspense, foreshadow, writing mysteries, writing tips

Featured Book

Techniques of the Selling Writer 
by Dwight V. Swain

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

Classic book on how to write books that readers will want to read!

This is one of the foundation books that all novelists should have on their bookshelf.

Get at Amazon

Follow us on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Or…

Get New Articles Emailed to You!

~~~

We collect, use, and process your data according to our Privacy Policy.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Articles:


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.

Get at Amazon


Find Us on the Web

  • Follow on Twitter Follow on Twitter
  • Like at Facebook Like at Facebook

Copyright © 2023 How To Write Shop.

Omega WordPress Theme by ThemeHall