Writing mystery fiction can be a special kind of puzzle. In this new, revised edition of the Mystery Writers of America classic, Sue Grafton weaves the experience of today's top mystery authors into a comprehensive mystery writing "how-to." Writers will learn how to piece a perfect mystery together and create realistic stories that are taut, immediate and fraught with tension.
The book's contributors include a "who's who" of the mystery writing elite: Faye and Jonathan Kellerman on conducting accurate research; Michael Connelly on mastering characterization; Tony Hillerman on writing without an outline; Lawrence Block on overcoming writer's block; Sara Paretsky on creating successful series characters; Tess Gerritson on writing the medical thriller; Ann Rule on the art of writing true crime. And many more!
The mystery, like other stories, relies on believable characters, a strong narrative, and crisp prose. But it is also "a way of examining the dark side of human nature," says Writing Mysteries editor Sue Grafton. The book's 37 contributors ponder everything from brainstorming ideas to dealing with editors. Jeremiah Healy jump-starts the book with a piece that considers the unwritten "rules" of mystery writing. Stuart Kaminsky discusses research--experts, it turns out, are just waiting for you to contact them--and Sandra Scoppettone discusses vivid villains. Sara Paretsky contemplates the pitfalls of using a recurring hero, and Michael Connelly contributes a fine piece on characterization. "The best crime novels," Connelly says, "are not about how a detective works on a case; they are about how a case works on a detective." Other chapters focus on amateur sleuths, convincing dialogue, depiction of violence, and specialty genres. The book's short chapters form a sort of mystery writer's antipasti plate. Some won't resonate, while others will leave you wishing you had a larger serving. An ideal primer for mystery writers. --Jane Steinberg
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Mysteries:
The product arrived later than I like, but in reasonable time. It was also in excellent shape, and its contents was very informative.
Learn to Write Mysteries from the Masters:
There is much to learn writing in the mystery genre, and these masters freely give of their time and knowledge as they share the results of their experience. Writing Mysteries is divided into three parts: Preparation, the Process, and Specialties. Essays provided by over three dozen mystery authors include examples from their published works. The preparation begins with how to bend, not break, the rules of mystery writing. The section continues with how to keep a work schedule, and how to research... more info
Very good writing handbook:
This is an easy-to-read collection of essays written by mystery writers. Authors include Lawrence Block, Michael Connelly, Tony Hillerman, Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, Ann Rule, Sara Paretsky, Bill Granger, and others. There are 35 entries or chapters that range from how to create characters to marketing to dialogue--and everything else a mystery writer has to deal with. Some of the short chapters are better than others, but I believe there are enough solid nuggets of info in these pages to... more info
First impression - looks like it'll be very helpful!:
I've always had a mystery novel floating around inside my head, so with my husband's encouragement, I thought I'd give it a whirl! Before I start, though, I want to make sure I really know what I'm doing, so I bought this book (no sense in getting a brand new copy if a used copy will do!). I've skimmed through it, and it looks just like what I was hoping for. With the holidays approaching faster than I'd like, I need to wait until the 'dead' of January to start! My first impression is that this book will... more info
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