Starting Points and Developing Ideas

Finding Ideas and Evolving With Them

A writing Exercise

Beginning Your Mystery Audio Version

FAQ 1

Beginning Your Mystery PDF

Session 1 Student Exercises

Introduction to Character

The Detective

Sidekicks

Character Exercise 1

Character Part One PDF

Suspects: Who and How Many

Writing Villains and Criminals

Writing the Victim

Character Arcs: To Change or Not to Change?

Character Exercise 2

Character Part Two PDF

Introduction to Plot

Beginning, Middle, & End

Four Ways of Thinking About Story Structure

Plot Exercise 1

Plot Part One PDF

Introduction to Plot Part Two

Plotting a Mystery

Outlining: Creating a Beat Sheet

"Our Story So Far..." A Recap

Plot Exercise 2

Plot Part Two PDF

Introduction to Dialogue

Good and Bad Dialogue

The Way We Talk

Dialogue Exercise

Dialogue PDF

Setting

Description

Setting and Description Exercise

Setting and Description PDF

Developing Your Style

Theme and What Your Story's About

A Few Last Words on Revision and Theme

Style and Theme Exercise

Style and Theme PDF

Intro to Revision

The Diagnostic Read

Fixing Story Problems

Fixing Character Problems

Fixing Language Problems

Getting Feedback

Revision Exercise

A Case Study in Revision

Revision PDF

Introduction to Submission

Publishers

Agents

Formatting Your Manuscript

Researching the Market

Query Letters

Submission Tracking

Submission Exercise

Parting Thoughts

Submission-Ready PDF

Welcome Resources

Submission Resources

Any Questions?

FAQ 1: Access, Student Community, Advice on Writing Crime Fiction in Modern Times

Advice I Wish I'd Known

Something Writers Should Avoid

Good and Bad Habits for Writers

Five Ideas For When You're Stuck

Ten Tips to Make Your Writing More Professional