Writing the Mystery : Second Edition

1. Introduction to the Mystery Hacking Your Way into a Killer Mystery Market 1(3) Sell to the mainstream, small presses, audio, and e-books What's a Mystery, Anyway? 4(9) Defining the genres The Chinese Law of Secrecy 13(4) A key to keeping the writing engine revved 2. The Plot's the Thing To Outline or Not to Outline? (A Good Question) 17(4) Pre-plotting essentials, chapter organization, and proposals The Starter's Pistol 21(2) Beginning, the mystery that has a chance for publication The Investigation Follows 23(6) Indispensable story arcs, conflict, and plot development The Killer Unmasked 29(2) Revealing secrets and building the novel's conclusion The Old Red Herring and Other Necessary Tricks 31(6) Proven plot devices 3. Accessories to the Fact Plot vs. Character 37(3) Balancing your mystery to meet editors' demands The "Who's" in the Whodunit 40(5) What makes viable primary and secondary characters? Offering Testimony 45(3) Effective dialogue explained The Scene of the Crime 48(4) Setting and atmosphere Pinning Down the Details 52(2) How to cultivate the research habit The Stolen Kiss 54(2) Adding romance to your mystery, but judiciously The Bloody Deed 56(7) Violence is an integral part of the mystery genre 4. Similar Offenses Mysteries Come in an Abbreviated Form 63(2) Short stories and other mystery variations A Strategy for Writing the Mystery Short 65(6) From idea to finalization Five Specific Clues to the Crime Brief 71(6) What short mystery fiction requires in order to work 5. Getting the Story Straight Now, Maximize Your Writing Sizzle 77(3) Techniques that improve your writing presentation Sweating on a Chain Gang 80(3) Exercises to add impact and polish Eight Common Writer Misdemeanors 83(6) Mistakes to avoid Logical Consistency Counts 89(5) Maintaining rationality on all levels To Vary Forms Is Very Important 94(5) An essential for spicing up your narrative style Get the Dead Out 99(3) Avoid passive writing by developing active voice The Writer Sings 102(7) Your voice is unique Time Off for Self-Editing 109(2) Tips for revising 6. After the Fact The Author's Summation 111(2) How to summarize the mystery so you can sell The Hired Gun 113(4) Acquiring an agent, what to expect from the relationship Submitting the Package 117(2) Prepare your novel for submission Taking Out a Contract 119(2) What to consider before signing Joining a Gang 121(4) Mystery writing groups for networking fun Taking the Rap 125(4) Promote your mystery as only you can Private Security Detail 129(1) Avoid the ever-present pitfalls of publishing schemes Keeping a Series Alive 130(5) Longevity means skillful innovation 7. On the Witness Stand For the Record 135(1) Author interviews-and their advice to new writers Mary Higgins Clark 136(4) Michael Connelly 140(3) Tony Hillerman 143(3) Elmore Leonard 146(3) Dale Furutani 149(5) Sujata Massey 154(4) William Kent Krueger 158(3) Laura Lippman 161(6) S.J. Rozan 167(2) Linda Fairstein 169(4) Larry Karp 173(3) Rick Riordan 176(2) Seymour Shubin 178(6) Kris Neri 184(5) 8. Under Interrogation A Final Deposition 189(23) Frequently asked questions, answered by the author Index 212