by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Cozy mysteries, also known as traditional mysteries, are lots of fun to write. But there are some challenges authors will face while writing them.
Hope you’ll join me at Laura Pauling’s blog today, where we’ll look at six challenges mystery writers may run into and tips for meeting them. (Busy week here on the blog!)
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
If you’re like me, you have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love being connected with other writers and resources—but I hate the way it sucks up my time!
Hope you’ll join me today on the Jungle Red Writers blog for some tips for handling our time online. (And if you haven’t already discovered this blog—it’s a great place for writers and readers with some of my favorite mystery writers all in one spot.)
by Sandra Gardner
Since character and story are major elements in a novel, your primary concern as a novelist is to figure out who your characters are, what their motivations are, and where your characters – and your story – want to go. Exactly how they get there can be dealt with later.
For me, it began with a vision of my mother standing over me while I was sick, lying on the couch. Without worrying about whether I was hallucinating, I dragged myself to my computer and ended up with 20 or so pages. So far, I had a mother, about age 70, in a contentious relationship with a daughter, who was in her late 30s. The only other thing that was clear to me was that the mother was dead, a fact that did nothing to alleviate their contentious relationship.
Okay, now what? I didn’t think a mother/daughter relationship alone, even a conflicted one, was enough to carry a whole novel. As soon as my head cleared, I typed 20 more pages, this time adding the murder of the daughter’s longtime psychotherapist.
Now I had an M.C. (main character), a ghost, and a murder. A ghost, by the way, with loud opinions on just about everything, especially her daughter’s actions. I could see the potential for humor in the narrator/protagonist’s view of things. This has been borne out by readers’ responses.
But what was the reason for the ghost-mother to come back? Continuing to annoy her daughter wasn’t enough motivation. Aha! The mother knew that her daughter was about to get into big trouble, so she came back to help. She also imagined herself as the next Jessica Fletcher, from “Murder She Wrote.”
The trouble she came back to was the murder (of course). This involved her daughter, the M.C., in several ways. She soon became the prime suspect of the detective on the case. Why? Because one of the members of the therapy group – or someone else connected with the therapist – framed our M.C.
The involvement of the therapy group, plus several other people, produced a cast of not-very-nice suspicious characters and red herrings. Then our M.C’s. – and her ghost-mother’s — sleuthing to find the killer and the person framing her, got her almost killed.
Meanwhile, our M.C. had to go work every day, deal with her tyrannical, incompetent boss, find her way into a relationship with a new boyfriend, and occasionally do lunch or aerobics with her best friend.
To up the ante, I added another murder — this time, a member of the therapy group. Our unfortunate M.C.landed herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. She ended up charged with both murders and thrown in jail.
Now we have two murders, one attempted murder, and our M.C. locked up. How was she going to solve the murders and clear herself, when she was in jail? Besides her mother-the-ghost-detective, she enlisted the help of her best friend and a member of the therapy group.
To keep upping the ante, I put our M.C. in even more dire straits. There was a second attempt on her life, while she was in jail. After a few more red herrings, the killer finally revealed him or herself, with a third attempt on our M.C.’s life.
What happened next? Well, to find out whodunit, you’ll have to read the book: my newly published mystery, MOTHER, MURDER AND ME. After all, it is a mystery novel! Hopefully, this little article will help you deal with the who, what and where of characters and story, when you start thinking of your first – or next – murder mystery.
Sandra Gardner’s mystery novel, MOTHER, MURDER AND ME, was a winner of Sawyers Publishing’s First New Author (fiction) Contest 2011. It was published by Sawyers in spring 2012, and is available on Amazon.com; Barnes & Noble.com; Smashwords.com; and from the publisher. Sandra may be contacted via email: sgardner2@hvc.rr.com; or on her Facebook page: Sandra Gardner (sandywritesbooks@gmail.com).
The online writing community is very tight-knit and supportive….probably because the writing life can be so isolating. Most of us have someone in this community who we find especially inspiring and helpful.
There are many writing friends who are supportive on a daily basis–I couldn’t name them all here or the blog might crash. Some writers always comment on my blog (and I read and appreciate every comment I get), some are always there for me on Twitter, RTing the links I share. There are some writers who read my blog on Facebook on Networked Blogs and like my posts there. Some writers are folks I know in person–they give me career advice (which is incredibly appreciated, since it can be hard to know what direction to go in as a writer.)
Then there are writers who provide me with inspiration and writing advice. I subscribe to some incredible blogs–a few of those blogs that I could even set up Twitter to automatically tweet everything they post…because their posts are always good.
because the information there is invaluable for writers. Her main blog is Wordplay and she also posts on a rotation at the AuthorCulture blog. She writes fiction, short stories, and nonfiction–her books can be found here. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Katie has just finished a ten-part series on story structure that covered everything from the inciting incident (place the inciting incident in the first 25% of the book and pull the protagonist into that incident) to the midpoint (“it must act as a personal catalyst upon the main character”) to the resolution (“the resolution should give the reader a concrete example of how the character’s journey has changed him.”)
And this was just used as an example. Go to K.M. Weiland’s blog to find posts on backstory, dialogue, pacing, and more.
As a thank you for her resource for writers at Wordplay and to follow the rules of the Random Act of Kindness Blitz, I’m sending her a bookstore gift certificate so she can spend a little time relaxing with a book.
Becca and Angela designed this blitz to encourage us to recognize other writers–they urge us to “send them an email, give them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. “
Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for my blog readers as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up.
Who has helped you on your journey to publication or provided helpful resources or encouragement for you? Have you discovered K.M. Weiland’s blog? Which blogs do you find especially helpful for writers?
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific is a compilation of all the writing links I shared
the previous week.
The links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 15,000 free articles on writing-related topics. Sign up for our free newsletter for monthly writing tips and interviews with top contributors to the WKB or like us on Facebook.
Don’t’ forget the new release blogfest that Hart Johnson and I are hosting on June 5th—find more information and sign up here. The best entries get signed copies of our new releases.
Have a great week! And Happy Mother’s Day to my mother and all mothers, today. :)
Publishers–the window is closing: http://bit.ly/JPRUjD @harkaway @Porter_Anderson @conville_walsh
You Are Not Your Bookshelf: http://bit.ly/INOuSL @readingape
How to finish writing a novel: http://bit.ly/INOXV2 @ava_jae
The ebook marketplace is a long way from settled: http://bit.ly/ISnN9f @MikeShatzkin
Strategies For Writing About Loss: http://bit.ly/INQwCt @BTMargins
Whose Story Is It? http://bit.ly/J7liEq @mooderino
3 Core Elements of Storytelling (And Why You Should Write Them Right Away): http://bit.ly/J7lrHN
10 synonyms for tacky: http://bit.ly/J7lB1Y @writing_tips
Psychology in Worldbuilding: http://bit.ly/J7lIKO @juliettewade
Harlequin Fail: http://bit.ly/IB8F1N @PassiveVoiceBlg @annvosspeterson
Traditional Publishing And Self-Publishing Are Not Mutually Exclusive: http://bit.ly/J7lKT0 @thecreativepenn
13 Reasons the Police Might Oppose a Superhero: http://bit.ly/J7muaQ
Do Deadlines Hurt Us or Help Us? http://bit.ly/J7mDuR @jodyhedlund
Why It’s So Hard to Become a Writer (and 5 Tips to Break Through): http://bit.ly/J7mSGj @krissybrady
5 tips for a successful book event: http://bit.ly/JdqZye @curiosityquills
A look at in-laws in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/JhjhUK @mkinberg
Story Structure: The Third Act: http://bit.ly/Jdr7xD @KMWeiland
Writing and receiving book reviews: http://bit.ly/INKqC3 @beth_barany
Reviewing Your Reviews: How to Absorb Feedback from Writing Contests: http://bit.ly/INOMt1 @jeanniecampbell
5 Things 1 Writer Learned About Self-Publishing: http://bit.ly/INLIwT @elephantguy68
How 1 writer built her author website: http://bit.ly/INNDlc @roniloren
5 Things You Don’t Need To Include When Writing Summaries: http://bit.ly/INNPRt @writersdigest
Dos and Don’ts for fantasy language: http://bit.ly/INO3Ie @fantasyfaction
Publishers should focus on the 19% (infographic): http://bit.ly/INOiD0 @galleycat
Resources for finding character diseases: http://bit.ly/JVO6x6
Tips for getting a publishing internship: http://bit.ly/JVOcF4
Tips for writing back cover copy: http://bit.ly/JVOj3s @byrozmorris @jamigold
16 Essential WordPress Plugins for Authors: http://bit.ly/JVP5NU @JoeBunting
The Beauty is in the Details: http://bit.ly/JVPLD5 @meredithduran
Differences between small and big 6 publishers: http://bit.ly/JVPWy6 @CherylRWrites
The Art and Science of Collaboration: http://bit.ly/JVQ6pg @CreativityPost
Writer Yoga: See the World Through The Right Lens: http://bit.ly/JVQdkC @jenniecoughlin
Revising vs rewriting: http://bit.ly/JVQp3c @dpeterfreund
Excessive Detail Can Kill Your Story: http://bit.ly/JVQrbm @mooderino
How to Get Your Life Back from Your Smartphone (and write): http://bit.ly/J3N1Ij @markmcguinness
Why Floundering Is Good: http://ti.me/JVRdoU @anniemurphypaul
5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Writing Sessions: http://bit.ly/J3NhXI @write_practice
A forensics research resource for mystery writers: http://bit.ly/u7uLEU @DPLyleMD
Tips for connecting with book clubs: http://bit.ly/J3Oyy4 @JulieCantrell
Mental Revision Tools: http://bit.ly/KHiL2J @BretBallou
Can literary fiction survive the ebook age? http://bit.ly/K5AUK5 @alisonflood
13 things writers can learn from America’s Next Top Model: http://bit.ly/K5B7Ne
Find Your Characters Through Their Profession: http://bit.ly/JqUv3E @howtowriteshop
10 Things Agents Don’t Want To Hear At Pitches: http://bit.ly/JqUzAl @greyhausagency
Voice–dare to be uniquely you: http://bit.ly/JqUE70 @KristenLambTX
The Importance of Reversion Clauses in Book Contracts: http://bit.ly/JqUFIe @victoriastrauss
Why writers need checklists: http://bit.ly/JqUPz6 @KMWeiland @AllyAnderson
Quick tips for writing scenes: http://goo.gl/kw9PN @Wordstrumpet
Tips for adding conflict to our story: http://bit.ly/IHdEkg
Writing advice from Harper Lee, Steinbeck, and Sandburg: http://bit.ly/IRbWPv @writersdigest
8 rules of Pinterest etiquette: http://bit.ly/IRcp45 @jenndancy
Delineate Characters through Dialogue: http://bit.ly/IRcFjy @passivevoiceblg
Tips for setting up a new series: http://bit.ly/K627fq @noveleditor
Publisher euphemisms: http://bit.ly/K62s1L @johnnyd @guardian
1 writer used a journal to find voice and story: http://bit.ly/JZq7gI
Girl vs Boy: Writing the Opposite Sex: http://bit.ly/JZq9VJ @janice_hardy
What Happens If Your Publisher Hits the Wall? http://bit.ly/JZqfwx
Are You a Writer Who’s Too Busy Not Writing? Here’s How to Get Started: http://bit.ly/JZql7n @krissybrady
1 writer defends herself on blog typos: http://bit.ly/JZqzLQ @sarahahoyt
1 poet’s advice to other poets: http://bit.ly/JZqE2d @galleycat
36 Adjectives Describing Light: http://bit.ly/JZqI1M @writing_tips
A synopsis example (using “Ides of March”): http://bit.ly/JZqLup @ChuckSambuchino
Interviews with cover designers: http://bit.ly/JZqXd8 @ruthharrisbooks
‘Social’ Media: Muse Abuse: http://bit.ly/JZqWWS @porter_anderson
30 Twitter mistakes to avoid: http://bit.ly/JZr3la @speechwriterguy
Showing in a Distant Third Person: http://bit.ly/JZr5t6 @janice_hardy
Story Structure: The Climax: http://bit.ly/JZr9cs @KMWeiland
Fight scene pacing: http://bit.ly/JZrax4
Writer Masochism and How to Cure It: http://bit.ly/JZrhbU @annerallen
Stuck on your novel? Write yourself a five-star review: http://bit.ly/JZrlZ6 @dirtywhitecandy
How audio book narration works: http://bit.ly/IXdroK @ddscottromcom @C_Padovan
Think Like a Publisher: Projected Income: http://bit.ly/IXdVLI @deanwesleysmith
The 10 best first lines in fiction: http://bit.ly/IXec11 @guardian
You Can’t Just Leave Out The Boring Parts: http://bit.ly/IXepkO @mooderino
Preventative vs. Preventive: http://bit.ly/IXeB3B @writing_tips
Step Away From the Keyboard and Improve Your Writing: http://bit.ly/IXeV2l
When a Metaphor Becomes a Metaphor Cliche: http://bit.ly/IXfadA @pegeditors
For writers’ significant others: http://bit.ly/IXffxS @rachellegardner
Good Stories Start in the Middle: http://bit.ly/Je6EKa @AdriennedeWolfe
End your writing sessions in the middle of a sentence: http://bit.ly/Je6LW9 @janice_hardy
3 resources to help writers become more comfortable with technology: http://bit.ly/Je6NgH @janefriedman
The positive side of rejection: http://bit.ly/Je6R03 @angelaackerman
Character Dynamics: http://bit.ly/Je6W3R @DavidBCoe
The Return of the Novella, the Original #Longread: http://bit.ly/Je71Ey @TheAtlantic @JoeFassler
The Reality of the Six-Figure Deal: http://bit.ly/IPV7Ca @cristinterrill
How NOT to write a series, OR, Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: http://bit.ly/IPVbly @literaticat
Make your characters leap off the page: http://bit.ly/Jecj2R @behlerpublish
Maximizing Author Appearances in an Increasingly Virtual Age: http://bit.ly/JeclrL @Lit_Gal
The innovation we need to see before eBooks can completely replace pBooks: http://tnw.co/JectYi @Boris
Writing and publishing today–what’s honest and true? http://bit.ly/JqwGZ3@WilsonWyattJr via @WomenWriters
8 Ways to Build a Loyal Readership for Your Blog: http://bit.ly/JecCe6 @aliventures @catseyewriter
How Writers Can Get Started With Google+: http://bit.ly/JecGup @danblank
7 Ways Doing Your Accounts Can Boost Your Creativity: http://bit.ly/JecLy9 @the99percent
How to write a romance: http://bit.ly/JecUBI @howtowriteshop
Conflict strategies in fiction. http://bit.ly/J2viuw @p2p_editor
What’s in a “strong female character”? http://bit.ly/JecTOj @juliettewade
Navigating a 1st Time Author’s Book Launch: http://bit.ly/Jdv0Va @TweetTheBook
Are American YA Covers Too Generic? http://bit.ly/Jdvmei @galleycat
How to Make Writing into a Dream Job: http://bit.ly/JdvtGV @bookemdonna
Author collectives signal a new chapter for self-publishing: http://bit.ly/JdvGtC @theguardian
Man Against Nature–How to Make it Work: http://bit.ly/JdvOJz @kristenlambTX
Characterizing through appearance: http://bit.ly/Jdw1wl @CAMorganti
The importance of quality control for our novels & tips for vetting editors: http://bit.ly/K1BsPE @victoriastrauss @dirtywhitecandy
The coming D-Day beyond “books”: http://bit.ly/K1ByqH @naypinya @jpatokal @Porter_Anderson
Publishing–Potter envy: http://bit.ly/K1BBTk @Porter_Anderson @Forbes
Tips for beginning your story: http://bit.ly/J6p3qZ
10 picture book writing tips: http://bit.ly/K1C5sG @kidsBookReview
Why short stories matter: http://bit.ly/K1C9Zr @diymfa @skunkorama
The Starburst Method: The Rough Draft & Narrative Drive: http://bit.ly/K1ChIv @woodwardkaren
What to be aware of if you want to become an editor: http://bit.ly/IWqRqu @theresastevens
The wrong reasons to publish an ebook (and the right ones): http://bit.ly/IWr4d6 @hopeclark
Surviving a Writers Conference: Dos and Don’ts to Making it Out Alive: http://bit.ly/IWrdND @BTMargins
Why Writers Need to Seriously Consider Pinterest: http://bit.ly/JkWW8J @JodyHedlund
A collection of advice for writing endings: http://bit.ly/JkX9bQ
Aggressive versus Obnoxious in the Land of Publishing: http://bit.ly/K5eLKo @bob_mayer
The Importance of Pathos: http://bit.ly/JkXlrN @juliettewade
Non-verbal communication in crime fiction: http://bit.ly/JqTTuN @mkinberg
Tips for video blogging: http://bit.ly/JkXADg @jhansenwrites
Why you can’t find self-pubbed books in stores: http://bit.ly/JkXXgS @tglong
On “Noir” and Genre Pigeonholing: http://bit.ly/JkYks2 @BTMargins
How to Convert an Adjective to an Adverb: http://bit.ly/JkYuQ7 @writing_tips
Life as a published author: http://bit.ly/J4XKfl @rachellegardner
Do book trailers sell books? http://bit.ly/J4XOM1 @BTMargins
‘These Are Your Kids on Books’ Poster Goes Viral: http://bit.ly/J4XUDx @galleycat
Why your book isn’t selling: http://bit.ly/J4Y4ul @curiosityquills
The importance of editing: http://bit.ly/J4Y8ua
5 tips for writing wildlife: http://bit.ly/JpGGSf @gill_lewis
Don’t Let Your Inner Critic Hijack Your Book Research: http://bit.ly/JpGX7H @originalimpulse
Pesky dialogue problems: http://bit.ly/JpH7w1
The difference between faux and real tension: http://bit.ly/JpHuGP @carrieryan
Tips for better blog design: http://bit.ly/JpHTJq @nickthacker
5 Tips to Convince Editors to Say “Yes” to Your Guest Posts: http://bit.ly/JpIafr @alexisgrant
Key points of a query letter: http://bit.ly/JpIriv @behlerpublish
The hero’s journey: http://bit.ly/JpJzm5
Freelancers–don’t write for free: http://bit.ly/JpJzm5 @ChandlerWrites
5 Graphic Novels That Should Have Made the Hugo Awards: http://bit.ly/JpKKC2 @tordotcom @ShoshanaKessock
The Obsessed Writer’s Guide To Crawling Your Way Back To Sanity: http://bit.ly/ILmf2T @ollinmorales @kathypooler
3 tips for writing scenes: http://bit.ly/JllSkf @livewritethrive
Self-Publishing Basics: Introduction to Metadata: http://bit.ly/JllVfP @jfbookman
Why Writers Need Publishers…Or Do They? http://bit.ly/Jlm42L @lisapbuchan
3 tips for genre blending: http://bit.ly/Jlm8Qa @nicolamorgan
6 Steps to Article Content Properly Formatted and Search Engine Optimized: http://bit.ly/Jlmkit
Tips for starting a meditation practice (& aid creativity): http://bit.ly/JlmuGn @the99percent @mcd_owell