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Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Lighter Fare or Darker Stories

In a dark, and often discouraging world, are you writing your mystery, suspense, or thriller with a more lighthearted…
April 17, 2022
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
Your Goldilocks Moment

Whether you are writing your first mystery/thriller or have become a seasoned veteran, one thing remains true. Writing in…
November 17, 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
How to Use REal Life to Make Suspense Come Alive

There’s nothing more disappointing than picking up a novel described as mystery, suspense, or thriller, fully expecting a hair-raising…
September 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
The Mystery of Describing These Genres

Ever heard someone say, “I love a good mystery!” That’s more likely than hearing“I love a good suspense story.”…
June 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
Gain a Clearer Understanding Through Reading

Outside of studying the necessary and ever-increasing number of how-to books on writing, character building, plotting, showing and telling,…
December 17, 2020
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
The Power of Facial Expressions

Facial expressions speak louder than words, and yet, they don’t make a sound. In most cases, faces convey an…
September 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
Suspense = Uncertainty

Battered fingers dig into the edge of a balcony on the twentieth floor of a New York apartment building.…
July 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
Escalating Conflict

Sit down with a good book and hope for a relaxing evening. The opening sentence immediately captures your attention,…
March 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