Writing the Mystery: A Start to Finish Guide for Both Novice and Professional
- Book Review,
by G. Miki Hayden
From Library Journal
In this breezy but well-written manual, Hayden, an author of mysteries (By Reason of Insanity), sf, and essays on writing, offers advice on how to write a mystery that sells in today's saturated market. She starts with a rundown of the genre and then goes on to explore outlines, openings, chapter length, climaxes, and plot devices most often used in mysteries. Then she discusses character development, dialog, and setting. A section is devoted to violence in the genre, and a brief chapter on writing short-story mysteries is included. The rest of the how-to section is devoted to general writing advice and submission guidelines. Hayden concludes with short, informative interviews with such well-known mystery writers as Elmore Leonard, Laura Lippman, and Rick Riordan. This fun, exercise-laden manual is recommended where writing books are popular. Lisa J. Cihlar, Monroe P.L., WI Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Steven J. Kindler
I would recommend this book to everyone, even professional mystery writers...
Lori Sterling, Brooklyn, New York.
...in just reading a few of the suggestions, I feel I strengthened all of my writing, across the board.
Book Description
Acclaimed mystery and science fiction writer G. Miki Hayden brings her experience and reverence for the craft to readers in this authoritative guide to creating a compelling and commercially viable mystery. Writing the Mystery begins with a thorough exploration of the genre, and then proceeds to take the reader step-by-step through the writing process, starting with character and plot development, the nitty-gritty of word choice, grammar, and sentence structure, maintaining pace, revealing killers, and tying up loose ends. G. Miki then goes one step further in guiding the reader through the post-writing process, explaining manuscript preparation, cover letters, acquiring an agent, and methods of successful promotion. Writing the Mystery concludes each section with in-depth exercises, putting the lessons of the chapter into practice. The book also includes a special collection of interviews featuring such mystery major leaguers as Elmore Leonard, Sujata Massey, Dale Furutani, Laura Lippman, Seymour Shubin, and S.J. Rozan, who discuss the craft and offer their own valuable advice for the aspiring author.
About the Author
G. Miki Hayden, the author of the new underground classic, Pacific Empire, and the psychiatric mystery, By Reason of Insanity, has published a steady stream of mystery and science fiction stories over the years. A member of the board of Mystery Writers of America, she is considered an authority on mystery markets and how to sell to them. Miki teaches fiction writing both at Painted Rock and Writer's Digest online. She can be reached at gmh222222@aol.com
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