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Homepage > Mystery writing
baseman fielding a grounder
December 21, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Author Learning, Mystery writing, Writing Craft

Who’s On First In Your Story?

Tips to master your story’s beginning. Character, setting, voice, action, and the first sentence all work together to draw your reader into your story.


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triangle mystery base; victim villain sleuth
November 30, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Creating Characters, Mystery writing

The Mystery’s Magic Character Triangle

Your mystery balances on the character triangle of victim, villain, and sleuth. Each must be equally strong for your story to work.


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man running vigorously
November 23, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Creating Characters, Mystery writing, Novel Writing

When Characters Run Wild with Your Story

What to do when a character starts taking over your story.


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man thinking with computer on lap
November 16, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Mystery writing, Novel Writing

Stop Overthinking Your Story

Planning makes writing go faster. But sometimes it feels as though you’re trying to squeeze your story into a plot structure. You are overthinking your story.


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man slamming fist causing explosion
November 2, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Author Learning, Mystery writing, Story Structure

How to Build Story in the Middle – Part 2

A reversal at the midpoint points toward narrowing the focus in the second half of the middle.


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overhead view ofcanoe surrounded by water
October 27, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Author Learning, Mystery writing, Story Structure

How to Build Story in the Middle – Part 1

How to develop Act 2 in the four-act structure to expand your story and get readers invested in the story.


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drawing of two children on teeter totter
October 19, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Creating Characters, Mystery writing, Plot

How To Balance Character and Plot in a Mystery Novel

Techniques for balancing plot and character by planning and then writing scene-by-scene.


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Walter Mosley portrait
October 13, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Author Learning, Mystery writing, Novel Writing

Are You Missing the Fun of Story Writing?

Three proven ways to kickstart each writing session so you don’t waste time staring at a blank page.


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man in half shadow
October 5, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Mystery writing, The Hero

Use Moral Choices to Deepen Your Story

How to build tension and heighten reader engagement with moral choices.


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mysterious woman peering out of shattered foreground
September 28, 2020  |  Posted By Zara Altair  |  In Mystery Genre, Mystery writing

Is Your Mystery a Mystery?

The genre differences between mystery, suspense, and thriller. Plus ten mystery elements you need to include in your mystery novel.


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