
How to Write a Mystery
A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $19.49
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
From 70 of the most successful mystery writers in the business, an invaluable guide to crafting mysteries - from character development and plot to procedurals and thrillers - “this is a writing guide that readers and writers will turn to again and again” (Booklist, starred review).
Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is known for providing unparalleled resources on the craft, art, and business of storytelling, helping writers of all levels improve their skills for nearly a century. Now, this new handbook helps authors navigate the ever-shifting publishing landscape - from pacing, plotting, the business side of publishing, to the current demand for diversity and inclusivity across all genres, and more.
Featuring essays by a new generation of best-selling experts on various elements of the craft and shorter pieces of crowd-sourced wisdom from the MWA membership as a whole, the topics covered can be categorized as follows:
- Before writing (rules; genres; setting; character; research; etc.)
- While writing (outlining; the plot; dialogue; mood; etc.)
- After writing (agents; editors; self-pub; etc.)
- Other than novels (short stories; true crime; etc.)
- Other considerations (diverse characters; legal questions; criticism)
Also included is a collection of essays from MWA published authors - including Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, and Charlaine Harris - selected by best-selling authors Lee Child and Laurie King, and arranged thematically, answering, “What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d had at the beginning of your career?”
“Everything you wanted to know about how to plan, draft, write, revise, publish, and market a mystery” (Kirkus Reviews), this inclusive manual provides practical, current, easily digestible advice for new and established authors alike.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Mystery Writers of America, Inc. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















People who viewed this also viewed...


















Helpful
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great Advice From Those Who Know
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great Info
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Broad strokes
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I greatly appreciate the time and effort, and the humility the authors displayed. The reader did not feel “talked down to” which made the lessons learned quite enjoyable.
Excellent!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
if I wanted to read a book of essays and excerpts. this might be a great book, but it's not exactly what I consider the title to indicate. My fault.
Out of the 6 hours I've put in listening, I've gained at least 20 minutes worth of good input. This is my fault because I should have investigated past the title and the hugely printed author's name. It's not what you expect from the greats to put their name on something and then stuff it full of other people's commentaries.
investigate before you buy.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A ton of useful information for aspiring writers.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have been writing since 2013. I have attended writers conferences, subscribed to writers magazines, and yes, I have read close to 100 books on the craft, and yes, this book is by far the best one.
It answers all the questions most new writers have. It explores pros and cons of each style of writing, and it gives pointers on how to write for each genre.
Trust me, this book is one of the best investments any writer could make.
A Guidebook Everyone Needs To Read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Covers Many Age Genres
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.