Sleuth by Gail Bowen is filled with many valuable pieces of advice, especially about the planning process a writer goes through.
I tend to write with the notion of a 'narrative dare' and to see what appears out of the murk once I have changed the bedrock ground rules of society.
Over the years we have noticed trends in what is being published in the mystery genre. Some years we seem to have an abundance of books around the theme of kidnappings, other years it is psychological thrillers or serial killers. Police procedurals and historical mysteries continue to be huge sellers.
It’s a great time to be a female crime writer, but there are challenges for sure. Many readers expect a thriller and noir writer to be male.
Read widely and extensively. Good writing should inspire you.
The funny thing about history is that for all the reports of the standard mores of behavior, there were always outliers, women who explored Africa, who went on hunger strikes, who spied for the government.
Short stories are challenging because you always have to think up a new beginning, a new character, a new plot. Novels are slightly easier as you have something that you settle in with -- something larger to explore and study.
With the stigma of self-publishing removed in our modern world, today's writer has many more options to publish.
Throughout my writing journey, I've been lucky to receive wonderful advice from fellow authors and people working in the publishing business. I know how important it is, to learn from others.
Write every single day. Try for one page. In less than a year, you’ll have finished a book.
I’ve always wanted to know what was behind a closed door, or going on in a stranger’s mind.
Interview with Essie Lang - a literary travel guide to her books, her most memorable day as a bookseller, and her advice for aspiring writers.
The Versatile Writer is a creative writing podcast that features hints, tips and informal interviews with authors.
When a wrong turn is a right turn, and an excerpt from Ginger Bolton's BOSTON SCREAM MURDER.
Kathleen Marple Kalb chats about her swashbuckling opera singer sleuth, plotting, and advice for aspiring writers.
Phillip Margolin's challenge was figuring out how you could kill someone who is on stage in front of 3000 people and disguise the identity of the killer.
The characters came to Alma Katsu immediately, fully formed, like she'd known them all her life. Like they were old friends.
Find out how Nate Hendley creates suspense in his books, the most surprising thing he discovered while researching, and his tips for aspiring true-crime writers.
6 inspiring writing tips from established crime writers.
For THE BRIDE, Wendy Clarke's inspiration was a black and white photograph of an old dockland warehouse which she'd seen in a coffee shop.
Owen Laukkanen has always felt drawn to the ocean, and the mountains and the kind of chilly moodiness of the rainforest, and he's tried to evoke that more and more in his writing...
Are you living the writing life you want?
I use the spreadsheet to track, not only my productivity, but also my creativity. I can record the date, time, as well as whether I’m writing longhand or on the computer, editing or drafting.
5 tips on mastering the art of dialogue to keep your readers turning those pages.
Find out more about Carolyn Huizinga Mills' writing process and her fierce refusal to give up on the story that took up permanent residence in her brain and heart.
Julia Cameron's WRITE FOR LIFE is an encouraging companion for writers completing a first draft and especially useful for those tackling NaNoWriMo.
My one piece of advice to all writers is to write. Write anything and everything, write wherever you are, however you can and write what excites you.
Making Shana a martial artist was pretty self-serving… she needed a pastime, and I already had some knowledge of karate due to my own experience. I do think drawing on that helps to build emotion and tension, simply because the sensation of sparring with someone is familiar to me.
Write settings that bring your story to life.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Publishing is hard enough without constantly comparing your accomplishments with someone else’s. Celebrate every single victory.
Make friends. Meet your idols, meet everyone you know online, the newbie authors, agents, editors, publishers, media, organizers, podcasters—this is your community and it’s the best one to be in.
'Butt in chair.' In other words, show up to write and treat it like a real job, not just a hobby. My mother used to repeat that quote that 90% of success is just showing up, and that’s very true when it comes to writing.
For mysteries, however, it crucial to plan out the crime and the clues. I figure out who gets murdered then develop a roster of suspects and motives.
I really enjoyed the creative aspect of crafting the magical elements. They often came to me unbidden, whether it was the village backstory of the Jin ancestors or the supernatural talent of Whiskers, the magical bunny (with a nod to Chinese mythology) in the Jin family.
I think one of the things that holds new writers back is the idea that a first draft is supposed to be perfect. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-editing or giving up partway through a manuscript, but first drafts aren’t supposed to be perfect or pretty. They’re supposed to be messy.
