Mystery

How to Bury Clues in Your Mystery Novel

by Dana Isaacson | Jan 24, 2022 | Craft, Mystery

The craftiest mystery writers carefully puzzle out the placement of clues in their stories. Editor Dana Isaacson reveals when, where, and how they do it.

Hope is an Active Verb! 5 Ways to Keep Writing

by Our Special Guest | Nov 17, 2021 | Craft, Mystery

Keeping hope alive these days is no easy task—but especially for writers! Bestselling author and writing teacher Susan Breen offers tips to jumpstart your latest writing project.

How to be A Rock Star Author: Five Things Playing in Bands Taught Me About Writing

by Our Special Guest | Sep 29, 2021 | Craft, Mystery

Can being a real rock star help you become a rock star author? Novelist (and bass player) Clea Simon reveals how “on stage” can go onto the page.

6 Twisty Ways to Trick Your Reader

by Dana Isaacson | Aug 2, 2021 | Craft, Genre, Mystery

Bestseller lists are chock full of novelists who have mastered the art of misdirection. Editor Dana Isaacson reveals 6 twisty tricks of the trade.

The Art of the Twist – How to Shock, Surprise & Satisfy Your Readers

by Brian Andrews | Dec 14, 2020 | Craft, Mystery, Thriller

The key to pulling off an epic twist is three-fold: (1) understanding exactly what kind of twist you’re trying to pull off, (2) properly controlling the flow of critical information to the reader, (3) not disappointing the reader by failing to deliver the goods.

How to Write a Book Series that Pleases Readers Old and New

by Our Special Guest | Sep 23, 2020 | Craft, Mystery

Bestselling writer Marty Wingate offers reader-pleasing tips on creativity and continuity for ambitious novelists writing a book series.

What is Your Why? Finding Your Character’s Motivation

by Hank Phillippi Ryan | Jun 29, 2020 | Mystery, Thriller

In a novel, of any genre, the engine is the character’s decision making. Our job as authors is to understand why they do what they do–and allow it to reveal who they are. Hank Phillippi Ryan has some reasons you might use for a character’s motivation.

Career Authors Exclusive: Interview with Paula Munier

by Brian Andrews | Oct 23, 2019 | Mystery, Special Interview

As fate would have it, Paula and Brian have new books releasing on the same day (November 5th) and so they’ve decided to interview each other in a Career Authors exclusive double feature. This week, Paula is up first, answering questions about BLIND SEARCH, a mystery inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness

Writing Book #2: A Post-Mortem

by Paula Munier | Apr 29, 2019 | Craft, Life, Mystery

Writing your second novel can be surprisingly tough slog of rewriting and reimagining and rewriting again. Here are the lessons I learned writing my Book #2, lessons I hope will facilitate the writing of Book #3.

Writing Real News vs. Mystery Fiction: When a Reporter Gets to Make Stuff Up

by Our Special Guest | Apr 22, 2019 | Mystery

When reporter RG Belsky gets to make stuff up as a mystery writer, he finds similarities between fiction writing and journalism — starting with these 6 lessons.