Worldbuilding Lessons from Dune
Writer Chuck Wendig rhapsodizes about the worldbuilding in the new Dune movie.
"Dune as a storyworld has a lot of it," Wendig says. "It’s actually...
Use Character to Get Under Your Readers’ Skins
There's a lot more to horror than simply creating a monster or scheduling a few jump scares. The greatest horror hits your audience in...
Why are the Crazy Ones Always So Hot?
From Lucifer on down, we are culturally attracted to beautiful killers. The list is lengthy, but for many, it starts and ends with serial...
Here’s to Better Sex in Crime Fiction
In writing, as in life, there's nothing like great sex. Unfortunately, after we're done, we often have to admit...that was nothing like great sex. This...
One Writer’s Simple Trick for Brainstorming the Future
Science fiction writers have been predicting elements of the future - and our present - for decades. While we don't yet have holodeck and...
Is Horror a Genre or a Mood?
During an interview with DIY MFA, Andy Marino talks about his first horror novel, The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess. During the podcast, Marino...
Mystery Writers: Be Disciplined, Meticulous, and Ruthless
In an article for Writer's Digest, Stephanie Kane says that she learned a lot about writing mysteries from studying the work of Frances Glessner...
Create a Character Arc by Deconstructing Your Sleuth
In a new blog post, mystery writer Zara Altair says that while your mystery sleuth may not have a traditional character arc - need...
7 Movies About Creepy Cults (And What They Can Teach You...
Having been raised in a creepy cult from birth through high school (I won't say which!), this editor finds movies featuring fringe religions or...
Conflict Drives Your Mystery Novel
In a new blog post, mystery writer Zara Altair suggests ways to create conflict in your mystery novel. Unlike the heroes of thrillers or...
