Writing Tips

Pre-Writing

September 30, 2016September 30, 2016Mystery Writing Tips, Uncategorized, Writing Tips

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

In the past month, I’ve had three writers reach out to me. They were all writing mysteries for the first time.

They asked me about outlining with arcs and three-act sequences and character development sheets. Two writers reported feeling extremely overwhelmed and frustrated to the point of being immobilized.

I suggested that they might be overthinking it, at least when writing traditional mysteries. That’s because mysteries provide their own structure–a very familiar structure that avid mystery readers both know by heart and expect to encounter.

In fact, when we deviate from this structure or pattern, readers usually let us know about it.

I explained my own, very simple process:

I start out by writing the back cover copy. There are a couple of reasons for this. One, it gives me a global view of my story and its set-up. For another…I already have a cover for the book a year before I write it (I like working ahead with my cover designer). So there’s a print cover with copy all ready to go.

Then there’s a simple outline. Nothing fancy.

Here’s the structure for a cozy mystery (if you fill in the blanks with your own characters, victims, suspects, it becomes a very basic outline): Continue reading

Keep Your Readers Hooked by Dropping the Right Clues

September 19, 2016September 18, 2016Uncategorized, Writing Tips

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Foreshadowing might seem like a technique that applies mostly to mystery writers, but all stories rely on the classic “what might happen next?” question. Even in a romance, there are secrets to be revealed and histories to uncover, and where that information is learned affects a novel’s pacing. It’s the need to know that draws readers in and keeps them reading. Drop the right clues at the right time and readers will be glued to the pages.

Well-crafted foreshadowing puts those readers in the right mindset long before they reach a scene, and makes them anticipate that scene. Secrets unfold in surprising, yet inevitable ways, and readers feel as though the clues were there all along if only they’d seen them—because they were.

Too much too soon and there’s nothing left to learn (and no reason to read). Too little for too long risks frustrating readers, because they never learn anything new.

No matter what type of mystery your novel uses, look at where your clues and foreshadows appear. If you’re unsure how these elements should unfold, consider: Continue reading

Become an Exposition Ninja with 4 Sneaky Steps

September 12, 2016September 6, 2016Writing Tips

by David H. Safford, @DavidHSafford

Few elements of our craft vex us more than exposition.

Perhaps this is because the rules aren’t written in stone.

To you, the writer, it feels necessary to share everything that you’ve dreamt up about a character and his/her world.

But to the reader, there may be mass confusion about things you never dreamed would be unclear.

This is why so many conversations with early readers or critique partners can drift toward the defensive. We, the writers, have assumptions about what the reader should understand, or “get.”

Yet our readers often have much different experiences than we expect, and this is horribly frustrating.

To pave a smooth road for our readers – and to become proper Exposition Ninjas – we need to understand the purpose of exposition, otherwise we won’t know why we’re using it. Effective stories always handle exposition purposefully.

The Purpose of Exposition is to enhance three things: The characters’ goals, stakes, and consequences.

That’s it.

Any “backstory” that doesn’t provide depth for these three elements (character goals, stakes, consequences) is fluff that should be cut immediately.

One of the biggest mistakes that authors make is beginning their story or novel by “setting the scene.”

And while setting is important, it’s not essential.

What is essential is conflict. Risk. Stakes.

The stuff that matters.

And if you don’t begin with the things that matter, your reader won’t stick around.

So what do we do?

Here is some Exposition Ninja training that will sharpen your skills as you deal with this terribly tricky aspect of story-telling.Continue reading

Top Tips for Entering A Writing Contest

September 9, 2016September 6, 2016Business of Writing, Writing Tips

By Joanna Campbell Slan, @joannaslan

Over the years I’ve entered and judged a variety of contests. Since we’ve recently opened our call for entries to the 2016 FREDDIE AWARD for WRITING EXCELLENCE (FAWE) competition sponsored by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, I thought I’d share a little of what I’ve learned.

First impressions matter. Fortunately, the FAWE is electronic files only. But back in the day when I judged the St. Martin’s Minotaur contest, a woman sent me a stack of papers tied together with an old, dirty shoelace. Sure, I overlooked the grunge when I read her work, but I’ll admit it was hard to separate the visual introduction from the words on the page. Think a minute about the impressions you’re leaving as you work your way through the contest process.

Follow the rules. When you’re staring at a stack of entries, the fastest and fairest way to winnow them down is by checking to see if folks followed the rules. Personally, I like to print out the rules and check them off as I submit.

Transparency for communication helps. Do you have multiple addresses? Write under a pen name? Use a variety of email addresses? Are you planning a long vacation in Africa where you’ll be unavailable for months? Don’t make it difficult for the administrators to contact you.

Readability is essential. Of course, this won’t matter if your file is electronic, but I’ll never forget the contest manuscript that arrived in bright green ink. Ever. And there’s a lesson there. If you hand-write an entry form, is it legible? Did you use that favorite purple pen of yours? Don’t.

Characters Impact Stories

September 2, 2016August 28, 2016Uncategorized, Writing Tips

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by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Wednesday I drove to Flat Rock, North Carolina, to speak with a book club. It was a great event and the group asked some very interesting questions.

One of the questions I received was: “How do you alter your writing for books authored by Craig versus those authored by Adams?”

I have three different series and the Memphis Barbeque Mysteries is a four book series for Penguin that I wrote as Riley Adams. At first, I was tempted to say that there was no difference between the series, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized this wasn’t true at all. There’s a lot of difference between the Memphis series and the Myrtle and Southern Quilting series.

I realized it came down to one key factor. My answer was: “The main character in the Memphis series is an extrovert.”Continue reading