Writer Productivity

Crafting a killer cozy can be perilous. Fans of the genre expect authors to forego explicit gore and violence while at the same time creating a mind-boggling murder mystery with pulse-pounding tension and a twisty plot. But how is a writer supposed to satisfy such disparate demands? “How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery” tackles this exact problem by providing an actionable roadmap for starting (and completing!) a manuscript that will leave readers dying for more. Packed with charts and questionnaires designed to streamline the writing process, this comprehensive step-by-step guide will help you create compelling characters, vivid settings, and clever storylines. Whether you're a new writer or just new to the genre, you will walk away from “How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery” with a checklist for everything you'll need to complete the novel of your dreams, and you will also learn... The history behind the modern cozy and why they're so popular with today's audiences The 13 key reader expectations for the genre The 10 essential rules every cozy must follow to create a fair play puzzle The difference between cozies, thrillers, capers, detective stories, and police procedurals The difference between a premise and a hook-and how to kick-butt writing both The essential beats for the four-act plot structure How to effectively hide clues and create plot twists

Everything you need to know about SUSPENSE in one comprehensive guide. We often hear the term "suspense" used as a wholesale description for thriller novels, but it's actually a literary convention that can be used in all types of fiction - from legal and political fare to crime and noir. In fact, the excitement and exhilaration that properly executed suspense can manifest is an essential tool for every writer's arsenal. Invest in this guide to learn a myriad of techniques that will help you draft your book from start to finish. Crafting plot twists and plot revealsDeveloping unreliable narratorsLearning the difference between suspense and tensionRecognizing the difference between antiheroes and villains (and how to develop them)Creating red herrings, MacGuffins, and other elements of misdirectionWriting action and chase scenesUnderstanding the do's and don'ts of prologuesRaising the stakes through compelling dialogueBuilding a solid pacing to create a powerful plotHooking readers with a riveting opening We will also cover some of the coveted suspense techniques made famous by Alfred Hitchcock, Patricia Highsmith, Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle.SPECIAL BONUS: This book contains an extensive ★GLOSSARY OF LITERARY TERMS★ as well as classic and contemporary examples of suspense at its best. Plus, every chapter ends with either a checklist, grow tip, start-up exercise, or frequently asked question to help you complete your suspense story in half the time. So whether you're drafting your first novel or polishing your twentieth, Mastering the Art of Suspense: How to Write Legal Thrillers, Medical Mysteries, & Crime Fiction is a must-have for your keeper shelf. From the author of How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery and Poetic Justice.