Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for November Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
November 18, 2023-
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The Intentional WriterWant The Inside Scoop on Writing Mysteries?
When I sat down to write my first mystery, I knew I needed a guide. I’d written a few…
July 24, 2023 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspenseAdding 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Red Herrings
What are red herrings? According to Merriam-Webster.com, they are herring (fish) cured by salting and slow smoking to a…
December 17, 2019 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Voice and Style
Voice and style can make or break an author’s novel, so how can we make it stand out from…
November 17, 2019
