Now Write! Mysteries: Suspense, Crime, Thriller, and Other Mystery Fiction Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers [Paperback]

Sherry Ellis (Author), Laurie Lamson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 29, 2011 | Series: Now Write!

The essential handbook for writers of whodunits, techno- thrillers, cozies, and everything in between-featuring never-before- published personal writing exercises from some of today's bestselling and award-winning mystery writers.

Now Write! Mysteries, the fourth volume in the acclaimed Now Write! writing guide series, brings together numerous bestselling authors-including winners of and nominees for the Edgar, Hugo, and Shamus awards,-for the definitive guide to writing mysteries, thrillers, and suspense stories. Now Write! Mysteries teaches you everything you've ever wanted to know about crafting a page-turning mystery-from creating a believable detective hero (or terrifying villain), to using real-life cutting-edge investigative techniques to bring your story to life-with practical exercises taken directly from the pros:

• Discover the best techniques for seamlessly integrating action into your story with John Lutz, New York Times-bestselling author of Urge to Kill, Night Kills, and Serial.
  
  
• Learn how to fine-tune your sense of place and setting with Louise Penny, New York Times-bestselling author of the Armand Gamache mysteries.
  
  
• Take advice from Lorenzo Carcaterra, author of Sleepers and writer/producer for Law & Order, on how to compose a scene that lives up to your character's backstory.
  
  
• Let Marcia Talley, Agatha- and Anthony-winning author of the Hannah Ives mysteries, show you how to build a memorable, engaging detective. (Hint: It's not about making him flawless.)

  No other mystery-writing guide offers the road tested wisdom of so many award-winners and bestselling authors in one place.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The fourth installment in the Now Write! series (after books about writing fiction, nonfiction, and screenplays) focuses on the mystery genre. With chapters written by genre authors—including Simon Brett, Deborah Coonts, and Louise Penny—the book is a sort of from-the-horse’s-mouth affair: writers telling other writers how to build characters, put together a solid plot, use forensics properly, create an engaging setting, manipulate suspense, and find something new to say in a genre that has seen pretty much every variation and nuance you could possibly imagine. You can read the book from beginning to end or select specific articles to help you zero in on a particular area. The articles follow a fairly strict format: a brief description of the subject under discussion, some helpful tips, and a creative exercise to give the reader some hands-on practice. Short of one-on-one training with each of the writers featured in the book, this is probably the best and most useful way to benefit from their expertise. A smartly constructed and very helpful writer’s guide. --David Pitt

About the Author

Sherry Ellis is the editor of NOW WRITE! Fiction Writing Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers and NOW WRITE! NONFICTION, as well as a personal writing coach. Her author interviews have appeared in the Kenyon Review, The Writer’s Chronicle, Glimmer Train, and AGNI, as well as other literary and arts magazines. She lives in Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; Original edition (December 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585429031
• ISBN-13: 978-1585429035
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Writing > Mystery

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars not quite as good as Nonfiction February 19, 2012

By Seven Kitties

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a fan of the Now Write series in general. The concept is so solid and the contributors have been ace and you could use each book (particularly the nonfiction one) as a miniature writing course, just working through the exercises.

The bone I'd pick with this is that research is fun, but not sure it should be frontloaded as the first item in the headings. I found exploring character and relations and casting and then setting the crime to be more interesting, and to be honest, it was doing those things that made me realize WHAT I needed to research.

Then again, this isn't a 'read from a-to-z book. You're free to jump around. Some of the exercises lack a direct line to the topic: the 'sex scene' one gave good advice--It HAS to move the plot forward!--but the exercise could apply to any kind of scene at all. Which is a good exercise, but it seemed a bit out of focus to me.

All in all some gem exercises for all stages of mystery planning.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome learning tool January 6, 2012

By Jane Grayson

Format:Paperback

This was an awesome book both for seasoned as well as beginning mystery writers. I especially enjoyed the exercises at the end of each chapter. Getting advice from some of the most successful mystery authors in the business was eye-opening, even to me, a published mystery author.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent exercises January 1, 2012

By Serita

Format:Paperback

An excellent book of exercises for both the novice and professional writers. Established writers giving tips on their successful ways. I found them fascinating, fun and useful.