Character Flaws Create Conflict and Tension
Hercule Poirot was vain. Sherlock Holmes injected cocaine. So many fictional detectives have alcohol problems that you'd think it's mandatory. The point is, your...
Curtains!: The Link Between Theater and Mystery
Some of our favorite mysteries are set in the theatrical world and murder is frequently a topic of playwrights. What's the connection? In an...
Time is the Writer’s Friend, Character’s Enemy
Whether we're anticipating a Happy New Year or dreading a deadline, our lives are governed by the clock. In a post on CrimeReads, Andrew...
The Powerful Writing Lessons in Urban Legends
We've all heard the stories. The hook in the car handle. The man in the bathtub with no kidneys. Rod Stewart... never mind.
In an...
The Mystery of Sex
Mysteries and thrillers often have a romantic or sexy subplot. From James Bond's many sexual liaisons to the happily married Nick and Nora Charles,...
Use Misdirection to Keep Your Reader Guessing
Regardless of your genre, creating misdirection is one of the surest ways to surprise your readers. In a post on Killzone, Sue Coletta offers...
The Special Challenge of Magical Violence
Fight choreography is a tough skill to master. In addition to pacing and description, writers need a basic understanding of the effects of violence...
Accepting the Silliness in the Classic Whodunnit
As movies such as Clue or Murder by Death suggest, the classic whodunnit has an inherent sense of silliness. In a realistic scenario, a...
Crime Fiction Owes More to the Victims
Politicians and social commentators often make hash out of violence in popular culture, gaming, and the arts. They say that depictions of violence desensitize...
How Class is Depicted In and Influences Crime Fiction
During a recent roundtable discussion hosted by CrimeReads, a group of mystery novelists discuss how class and social divisions work in crime fiction. The...
