Browsing Tag

mystery writing

Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for November Part 1

Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
November 18, 2023
The Intentional Writer
Want The Inside Scoop on Writing Mysteries?

When I sat down to write my first mystery, I knew I needed a guide. I’d written a few…
July 24, 2023
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Adding Mystical Elements – Good or Bad?

Does the addition of a mystical character or creature enhance or detract from our mystery, suspense, and thrillers? Maybe.…
March 17, 2022
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
The Original Influencer – Nancy Drew

Influencers are all the rage into today’s social media world—something not too difficult with all the avenues to reach…
January 17, 2022
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Covid – Changes for Mystery Writers

How many times have you read a book or watched a movie and thought to yourself: that could never…
December 20, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
A Few Good (Plot) Twists

Good plot twists can make or break our story. While twists are important to all fiction writing, they are…
October 17, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Do You Love Your Series Sleuth?

Oh, the work you put into developing your sleuth, your investigator, your detective! Whether old or young, tall, or…
August 17, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Using Novels as Craft Books

What’s the secret of using others’ stories to beef up our own without plagiarizing? I’m always looking to craft…
July 17, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Dramatic Tension

What is dramatic tension? Merriam-Webster states dramatic is “sudden and extreme, greatly affecting people’s emotions” and defines Tension as…
May 17, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Pets as a Plot Ploy

Are pets an asset or an albatross in our mystery, suspense, and thriller genre? Pets have shown up in…
April 21, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Authors as Psychotherapists – Getting into the Mind of Our Characters

What can authors learn from the world of psychotherapy? According to the Microsoft Bing definition, a psychotherapist “treats mental…
January 17, 2021
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Excuse me, Mr. Bad Guy. Why?

There’s nothing better than a creepy villain. A deranged killer on the loose terrorizing your hero and heroine. A…
November 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
When You Feel Like Giving Up

Somewhere along the way doubts may have bubbled up and spilled over. Is the mystery, suspense, thriller genre still…
October 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Identity Crisis

Let’s talk villains. One of my favorite topics! The creeper. The serial killer. The diabolical mastermind. The psychotic killer.…
August 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Helpful Resources For Mystery/Suspense/thriller Writers

Technology today offers a wide selection of resources for writers in the form of YouTube instructional videos, simulcasts, zoom…
June 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Contests—Pretty or Prickly

Your opening scene has edge-of-your-seat tension, your characters are witty and full of life, the description of your setting…
May 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Why Write Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers?

Why do you write fiction? Why cloak your story in the mystery, suspense, or thriller genre? The right answers…
April 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Setting the Hook

Without a perfect bait a fisherman loses their chance in catching a fish. They must take their time and…
February 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Research: Time-waster or Story-builder?

“I write fiction. Is research really necessary?” “… a novelist has nearly the same obligation for accuracy as a…
January 17, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Red Herrings

What are red herrings? According to Merriam-Webster.com, they are herring (fish) cured by salting and slow smoking to a…
December 17, 2019
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Voice and Style

Voice and style can make or break an author’s novel, so how can we make it stand out from…
November 17, 2019