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Mystery writing

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Mystery writing

Writers Write: Set Up Your Writing Life

ByZara Altair October 11, 2022October 11, 2022

How to go from story planning to writing your first draft to create your writing life.

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white puzzle with one pink piece illustrating the final piece of a mystery puzzle
Mystery writing

How to Create A  Mystery Puzzle Readers Will Love

ByZara Altair August 29, 2022August 29, 2022

A quick guide to the elements for a mystery writer to use to create a puzzling mystery.

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aerial photo of forest that looks like a fingerprint
Writing Craft | Mystery Clues | Mystery writing

How to Use Clues To Build Suspense in Your Mystery Novel 

ByZara Altair April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

The power of building on clues to raise questions with readers and build suspense in your mystery novel.

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black letters spelling end backlit in yellow representing finishing a mystery novel
Mystery writing

How To Finish Your First Mystery Novel

ByZara Altair March 29, 2022March 29, 2022

Tips for beginning mystery writers to finish the novel. Steps to support the big project, long-haul writing that gets you to The End.

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Woman with a concerned look on her face illustrating internal conflict.
Mystery writing | Story Conflict | Writing Craft

How Does Story Conflict Work in a Mystery Novel?

ByZara Altair October 11, 2021

Limit the goals, create aspects of conflict to increase reader engagement with your mystery.

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Five characters in a lineup from the film The Usual Suspects.
Creating Characters | Mystery writing

Mystery Suspects: 3 Clues to Managing Suspects in Your Mystery to Keep Readers Going to The End

ByZara Altair September 28, 2021

How to refine your mystery suspects for the best reader engagement.

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bubble of water suspended by surface tension illustrating micro tension moments in a novel
Mystery writing | Tension

Give Your Mystery Underlying Tension to Build Reader Anticipation

ByZara Altair September 13, 2021

Build and sustain tension in your mystery with micro-tension moments. Instead of one big buildup, keep readers questioning what will happen next right now.

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suspects at table in the film Ronin
Character Development | Creating Characters | Mystery writing | Supporting Characters

The Challenge to Create Your Mystery Suspects

ByZara Altair July 26, 2021

Why understanding each suspect’s relationship to the victim, builds suspense in your mystery novel.

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Chinatown opening scene
Mystery writing | Novel Writing | Writing Craft

How To Write Your Mystery’s First Chapter

ByZara Altair July 13, 2021

The first chapter of your mystery is your reader’s first impression. You don’t get a second chance. Learn the five first-chapter elements to hook your reader into reading the rest of your mystery.

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books with text: turn the page
Mystery writing | Novel Writing | Setting

Storyworld vs. Story

ByZara Altair July 3, 2021

Tips to get your reader into the story and keep turning pages.

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Recent Posts

  • Create Your Stand-out Detective: A Guide for Mystery Writers
  • The Sleuth’s Eye: How Self-Editing Improves Your Mystery Writing
  • From Idea to Icon: Create Your Standout Mystery Detective
  • Character Chemistry: How Supporting Characters Fuel Your Mystery Narrative
  • The Mystery Novel Ending: Wrap-Up After the Big Reveal

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