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Writing.Com Newsletter Archives: Mystery

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#10629:	February 24, 2021	Annette
Stonehenge Not Set In Stone Archeologists have solved a mystery. At least that's their story. Who moved Stonehenge and why?

#10610:	February 10, 2021	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Just a little mystery Short mystery stories How quickly can you figure out who did it?

#10589:	February 03, 2021	eyestar~
Mystery of First Lines! What does a first line need to hook a reader? What is a first line of a mystery story that hooked you?

#10586:	January 27, 2021	eyestar~
More To Mystery! A few things to ponder on the Mysterious. Have you ever written a mystery outside of the genre of crime/detective stories?

#10562:	January 13, 2021	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Let’s split up and search for clues! Gathering evidence Is this a clue?

#10545:	January 06, 2021	Lilli ☕
Armed and Dangerous Foreshadowing can be a difficult element to pick up but very effective in mystery writing especially. If you know what will happen in a novel, does it make reading more or less enjoyable?

#10517:	December 16, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Just a peaceful small town Small town mysteries Nothing ever happens in this town (or does it?)

#10503:	December 09, 2020	amy-Has a great future ahead
Mystery-Personification This issue will highlight the different things that can be personified in writing and give the reader some good reads. What mystery writer's resonate with you most?

#10474:	November 18, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mysteries of 2020 The insanity of 2020 in mysteries Who was that masked man?

#10458:	November 11, 2020	eyestar~
Did you say "squirrel"? It's all about distraction...yep...red herrings! Do you have a favourite "red herring" example that kept you going til the end in a mystery story?

#10427:	October 21, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Novel or short story? Too long, too short, or just right How long should your mystery be?

#10411:	October 14, 2020	Annette
Fascinating Mummies Ancient cultures talk to us from the grave. What can go wrong if 59 mummies get unearthed in October 2020?

#10377:	September 23, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Piece by piece Putting together the jigsaw puzzle of a mystery Where does this piece fit?

#10369:	September 16, 2020	~Minja~
Great Mystery Jack the Ripper mystery is 130 years old and this is probably the main reason why it is so intimidating. In your opinion, what makes a murder mystery great?

#10338:	August 26, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
It’s all a matter of perspective Character perspective in mysteries How is the view from over there?

#10323:	August 19, 2020	eyestar~
Sir Arthur or Dame Agatha? a few facts about these classic crime writers: Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie! Which would you choose? Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie? Who do you prefer?

#10294:	July 29, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I'll be watching you Stalkers in mystery stories Who sent this note?

#10280:	July 22, 2020	eyestar~
Murder is the Word! Defining murder. n/a

#10249:	July 01, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mystery takes a vacation Summer mysteries What did your characters do last summer?

#10206:	June 03, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Eye of the beholder Perspective in mysteries Who is holding the camera?

#10197:	May 27, 2020	~Minja~
Mysterious Cases in Art Studying paintings sharpen senses and improves critical thinking skills. How ART you today? (The best artistic answer gets an artistic MB)

#10170:	May 13, 2020	Gaby
Small Town Mysteries Small towns are affected differently when it comes to a murder. Death, murder, or disappearance?

#10160:	May 06, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I saw the whole thing Witnesses to a crime What did you see?

#10142:	April 29, 2020	eyestar~
Medical Thrillers a peek at the genre of Medical Mysteries. Do you read Medical Thrillers? Why or Why not?

#10124:	April 15, 2020	Gaby
Suspicious Readers Writing for the reader who questions everything you write about can be quite tricky. As a reader, do you prefer the more complex books or an easy read? Or does it depend on your mood?

#10110:	April 08, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I didn’t see that coming! Stories with a twist Did you expect that?

#10103:	April 01, 2020	~Minja~
When a Small-Town Mystery Get Lynched Twin Peaks- the only mystery that doesn't need to be solved. What is your all-time favorite small-town mystery? Why?

#10076:	March 18, 2020	Gaby
Toilet Paper Mysteries Vol. 1 Wildfires can be contained if you react in time. From a writer’s perspective only, what’s the most important thing in a crisis?

#10065:	March 11, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I did it because... Establishing motivation Why did they do it?

#10055:	March 04, 2020	Gaby
Character Selection Deciding on the character/s for your story can be tricky at times. How do you select the right characters for your story?

#10024:	February 19, 2020	eyestar~
Mystery Lady Lilian Jackson Braun Lillian Jackson Braun and her Cosy mysteries. What is your favourite "Cosy" Mystery?

#10015:	February 12, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Finding and hiding clues Let’s split up and search for clues! What does it mean?

#9999:	February 05, 2020	Lt. Storm Machine
Withholding Information n/a

#9973:	January 22, 2020	Annette
Tintin is a Reporter Reporters make great detectives. Why don't we ever see one of Tintin's adventures reproduced in article format?

#9964:	January 15, 2020	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mysterious people Developing mystery characters Can these people be trusted?

#9956:	January 08, 2020	~Minja~
Detective Quirks Quirks make the main character memorable. Who is your favorite fictional detective?

#9932:	December 25, 2019	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Unwrapping Clues Solving the puzzle often requires navigating a maze of clues often despite the clues Do you have more fun solving the puzzle or hiding/planting the clues?

#9919:	December 18, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Dark tribute Blackmail in mysteries How much would your character pay?

#9905:	December 11, 2019	eyestar~
Christmas Mysteries? a peek at mysteries set at Christmas...finding a gift. What is your favourite mystery set in the Christmas season? Any suggestions as Christmas gifts?

#9903:	December 04, 2019	Sara♥Jean
Online Writing Tools Mysteries sometimes lose their flavor halfway through as they focus on the mystery. Here's some ways to avoid that. Do you have any other online tools to share with your fellow writers?

#9877:	November 20, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Wrapping up your mystery Revealing the solution How does your story end?

#9848:	November 13, 2019	amy-Has a great future ahead
Deciding Where Everything Goes This newsletter will give reader insight into how to organize for writing. How realistic do you like the novels you read to be?

#9855:	November 06, 2019	Sara♥Jean
Can Gaming and Character Creation Mix? Connecting game character sheets and characters in your longer stories. Have you ever created a 'character sheet', of sorts, for your characters? How can this help you when actually writing?

#9838:	October 30, 2019	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Plotting a Puzzle that's Dark Clues planted where they flicker just past the corner of the eye, among whispers of fear Planting clues is the dark places of the mind ~ does the mystery rule or does fear take over?

#9824:	October 23, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Tampering with evidence Don't let unreliable evidence fool your characters Can this evidence be trusted?

#9816:	October 16, 2019	warpedsanity
Uncovering the Evidence (or Hiding it) Ways mystery writers write in the clues, without giving the conclusion away. How do you uncover the evidence in your mystery writing without making the conclusion apparent too early in the story?

#9788:	October 02, 2019	warpedsanity
Timeless Mystery Classic Children's mystery: why they are important for young people to read today and why they remain popular. What makes classic children's mysteries so memorable?

#9773:	September 25, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Autumn mysteries Mysteries set in the fall What is buried in that pile of leaves?

#9764:	September 18, 2019	Annette
The TV Show Formula There is a method to mystery writing - you can use it if you want to. How can you tell who dun it right away?

#9739:	September 04, 2019	Annette
Forest Forests hold many mysteries and secrets for us to discover. Do you really want to know what's on the other side of that tree?

#9728:	August 28, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mistaken identity Mistaken identity in mystery stories Who are you?

#9713:	August 21, 2019	~Minja~
Invitation to a Murder Amusement, friendly interaction, plot twists, unusual characters are all it takes for a great murder mystery. Jack tells Jill, "This isn't the $5 bill you left on the table. I found it between pages 15 and 16 of Harry Potter." Jill retorts, "You're lying and I can prove it." How did Jill know?

#9691:	August 07, 2019	Annette
The Open Window Giving a misleading clue. How did they get out?

#9680:	July 31, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I found it! Searching for lost or hidden articles... What unique spots can you think of for lost items?

#9660:	July 24, 2019	Annette
You Hide, They Seek A good mystery writer gives clues that can be found. Do you have to give clues to find clues?

#9650:	July 10, 2019	amy-Has a great future ahead
Starting Slowly In this newsletter be prepared to get insight about how to ease into a new genre you are just trying to write in. What are your three favorite fictional detectives?

#9633:	July 03, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I’ll never tell Secrets in mystery stories Do you want to know a secret?

#9612:	June 26, 2019	Thankful Sonali I AM WRITING!
The Mystery of Coincidence This happened twelve years ago. It probably wasn't coincidence. Does anything happen by coincidence?

#9613:	June 19, 2019	Sara♥Jean
Wake Me Up! Appropriate pacing in stories will keep your reader interested, awake, and wanting more. How do you do that in mystery? A mystery has some unique elements that some other books may not be able to take advantage of. What are they?

#9593:	June 12, 2019	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
What Grows in the Garden Attending to what grows or lies fallow in your story or poem. Planting seeds vs. planting clues - do you harvest clues or do you uncover seeds?

#9579:	June 05, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mysterious gifts Strange packages What could it be?

#9566:	May 29, 2019	Thankful Sonali I AM WRITING!
Miniature Mysteries - Riddles in Rhyme Exploring the use of poetic puzzles to create little mysteries for readers and characters to solve. You must confess -- did you guess? Did the lines of poetry -- help you solve the mystery?

#9564:	May 22, 2019	Sara♥Jean
"Ideanary" for Mystery My favorite Writing.Com Tool, for my favorite Writing.Com Genre What is your favorite tool to help with your writing?

#9546:	May 15, 2019	eyestar~
Mystery poems? looking for mystery authors who write poems and Mystery poems! How would you define mystery poems?

#9533:	May 08, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Treasure in the attic One man’s junk is another man’s treasure This is just old junk, isn’t it?

#9479:	May 01, 2019	Annette
Seven Tools to Write Mystery Stories There is a road map for writing suspenseful stories. You want to crack the mystery code? Enter here.

#9513:	April 24, 2019	Sara♥Jean
The World Through Your Character's Eyes A lot of us shy away from drama in mystery, but drama can add realism. Embrace it. How can you add some drama to your mysteries without being overdramatic?

#9464:	April 17, 2019	Annette
Push and Pull The push and pull of question and answer. Why should you add more questions?

#9485:	April 10, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Secret roots of the family tree Searching for family ties Where did you come from?

#9467:	April 03, 2019	eyestar~
Mystery for Kids! Mystery Suggestions for children Do you remember your favourite mystery as a kid?

#9465:	March 27, 2019	Sara♥Jean
Can Preconceptions be a Hindrance? Have you ever read the back jacket of a book, been excited, and then been incredibly disappointed by what's inside? What is some additional advice for making sure your mystery items catch the correct readers?

#9424:	March 20, 2019	Annette
Mystery vs. Evidence Evidence can help to shed light on some aspects of mysteries. Whom do we believe?

#9429:	March 13, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
This is how it really happened Getting the truth... In your writing, how do you get to the bottom of who is telling the truth?

#9409:	February 27, 2019	Sara♥Jean
Don't Forget the Supporting Characters The main characters keep your story moving, but sometimes those supporting characters are my absolute favorites! Who is your favorite supporting character, and what book are they from?

#9364:	February 20, 2019	amy-Has a great future ahead
The Toys Which Helped Me Be Creative I love mystery and hope this issue gives you insight about me and some fantastic mystery pieces to enjoy. What is better: Old mystery movies or more modern ones?

#9380:	February 13, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Nobody’s perfect Realistic mystery characters Would they really do that?

#9363:	February 06, 2019	eyestar~
By Any Other Name a peek at Mysterious Subgenres n/a

#9362:	January 30, 2019	Sara♥Jean
Greetings and Salutations! This is my first Mystery Newsletter as a regular mystery newsletter editor, so here's a little introduction. What is your favorite aspect of the Mystery Newsletter, so I can make sure to incorporate it?

#9345:	January 23, 2019	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Hidden in Plain Sight How to miss a clue right in front of your eyes. When multi-tasking, is either task fully engaged, or perceived? Do you multi-task?

#9328:	January 16, 2019	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Line them up! Police lineups, witnesses and their importance in criminal cases. Could you answer the question "Have you seen any of these people before?"

#9321:	January 09, 2019	Jeff
Finale My last issue as a regular Mystery Newsletter editor. I'll probably volunteer for newsletter guest editor slots from time to time. Which newsletter should I focus on?

#9269:	January 02, 2019	Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈
Mystery or Suspense The difference between mystery and suspense. Hitchcock said that "mystery" and "suspense" were "miles apart." What do you think?

#9284:	December 19, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Leaving some mystery Don’t overexplain How much explanation is too much?

#9275:	December 12, 2018	Jeff
True Crime How a nonfiction genre can help fiction writers. Are you a fan of true crime stories? If so, which one is your favorite?

#9257:	December 05, 2018	Thankful Sonali I AM WRITING!
The Past Is Mystery A different perspective mystery -- of it being something someone does not know. What's white ink?

#9254:	November 28, 2018	Sara♥Jean
The Key to Avoiding Loose Ends Mysteries are amazing! But they can be confusing if there are loose ends left untied. This is one way to avoid them. How do you make sure all of your loose ends are tied up? Share with the readers if you have a different strategy.

#9233:	November 21, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
The evidence suggests... Gathering evidence Can you prove it?

#9225:	November 14, 2018	Jeff
You're A Villain To Someone A thought exercise that encourages you to see villains in a new way. Who are you a villain to?

#9214:	November 07, 2018	Annette
Time is of the Essence Nobody knows why time exists. What can you do with time?

#9181:	October 31, 2018	Annette
Missing Anything can go missing. Where did they go?

#9190:	October 24, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Lost! Finding lost characters and items Where did they go?

#9178:	October 17, 2018	Jeff
Authenticity It's important to make sure your reader believes the events that occur in your story. What's the least authentic story (book, movie, TV show, etc.) you've ever read or watched? What made it so inauthentic?

#9164:	October 10, 2018	Gaby
Unknown When things in life decide to take a different turn, present you with a new and exciting yet scary challenge, go for it! What was the biggest change you've experienced in life?

#9139:	September 26, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
It's all part of a plot! Plotting a mystery How do you plan your stories?

#9133:	September 19, 2018	Jeff
The Same But Different The pros and cons of writing in a genre with very specific expectations. Are you a writer who finds comfort or confinement in the idea of writing the same basic story over and over again?

#9119:	September 12, 2018	Gaby
Staging the mystery crew The characters we weave into the story are as important as the crime itself. What's the most important part to you when reading a mystery novel?

#9103:	September 05, 2018	Annette
The Stranger Fascination with the exotic. What makes strangers mysterious?

#9092:	August 29, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Building character relationships Character dynamics in mysteries Who loves or hates who?

#9068:	August 22, 2018	Jeff
Sensible Villainy Why villains' motives need to make sense. What's one of the most nonsensical villain schemes you've heard of?

#9052:	August 15, 2018	Gaby
The Traveler Describing the different places your characters visit or stay at should be enjoyable for both you and the reader. What's your favorite place you love to write about?

#9029:	August 01, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Behind a mask Masks and disguises in mystery stories Who was that mysterious masked man?

#9021:	July 25, 2018	Jeff
Cultural Differences How cultural differences can inspire mystery stories. Have you ever traveled someplace where the cultural differences really made you feel out of place?

#9010:	July 18, 2018	Gaby
Female Power Showing the fearless side of a female and how far you can push it. What qualities do you think a strong female character should have?

#8999:	July 11, 2018	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Plant and Harvest a Gardening Mystery What grows - or what lies fallow - in the garden What would you do if you found some bones while digging in your garden?

#8985:	July 04, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mysteries of the ordinary Mysteries involving ordinary objects There is nothing out of the ordinary here--or is there?

#8977:	June 27, 2018	Jeff
Dangerous Locales How some locations have become larger than life. Which location do you think is the most dangerous based on the number of fictional crises that have been inflicted upon it?

#8963:	June 20, 2018	Gaby
Finding Your Voice Write what you know is not always the best advice. Sometimes you have to dig deeper to find what works for you. Has your perspective of genre writing changed over the years or do you still stick with what you know best?

#8945:	June 13, 2018	amy-Has a great future ahead
Writng From Experience A look at writing from the experiences that you have had. Do you enjoy classic mystery fiction, like Agatha Christie, or newer mystery authors?

#8938:	June 06, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Blinded me with science! Mysteries based on science What does your experiment show?

#8931:	May 30, 2018	Jeff
Illogic The decisions we make don't always make rational sense. What's one time where you definitely acted against your own self-interest and why?

#8916:	May 23, 2018	Gaby
Child’s Play Observing children’s behavior can be quite entertaining. What was the worst thing you did as a child?

#8899:	May 16, 2018	eyestar~
Clues to Reviewing Mystery What to look for when you review mystery genre! What clues do you use when you review...MYSTERY?

#8889:	May 09, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Who, what, when, where, why, how? Important questions for investigators Who, what, when, where, why, how?

#8883:	May 02, 2018	Jeff
The Tone of the Crime How tone can make a difference in the type of crime story you tell. What's your favorite crime story tone? Do you like grim and realistic, or do prefer funny and lighthearted instead?

#8855:	April 18, 2018	eyestar~
The OUTBACK as setting! A peek at why Australian Outback makes a good setting for mystery. n/a

#8844:	April 11, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Book within a book Mysterious texts Who can resist a strange old book?

#8840:	April 04, 2018	Jeff
Villainous Familiarity A look at villains who have a history with the protagonist. Who is your favorite former friend/colleague/mentor turned villain?

#8822:	March 28, 2018	Gaby
Change is Imminent Sometimes we don't need questions to find answers. Is it possible for a person to change only because they want to?

#8799:	March 14, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Partners in Crime When villains work together Are two evil heads better than one?

#8795:	March 07, 2018	Jeff
Procedural Fatigue What to do when you've read or watched one too many procedurals. How many procedurals can you read or watch in a row before you start to get bored?

#8781:	February 28, 2018	Gaby
Different paths Finding your purpose in writing. Do you look at your writing with optimism or realizm?

#8755:	February 14, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Don't be a lazy mystery writer! Avoiding lazy writing Have you done your homework?

#8749:	February 07, 2018	Jeff
Bankrolling Your Vigilante How do unsanctioned operatives find the resources to do their job? If you were an unsanctioned operative, how would you obtain the resources you need to carry out your mission?

#8735:	January 31, 2018	Gaby
How to be Original Striving to come up with stories which are rare isn't an easy accomplishment What's the best story you've read or have written that felt very original?

#8721:	January 24, 2018	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Mysteries~Puzzling Pyramids A mystery is a pyramid, layer upon layer of stone (clue) Do you prefer to build a mystery clue by clue or solve it by uncovering possibilities?

#8706:	January 17, 2018	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Best supporting characters Secondary characters in mysteries Do all your characters add to the story?

#8699:	January 10, 2018	Jeff
Know When To Fold 'Em Revealing important information: when to keep teasing it and when to let it go What book or movie made you roll your eyes at how long it took to reveal information that you figured out early on?

#8686:	January 03, 2018	Gaby
New year, new crimes Sometimes the best thing to do is surprise yourself! Can you write without a plan?

#8672:	December 27, 2017	eyestar~
History of Mystery A peek at how the genre began! n/a

#8663:	December 20, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Christmas mysteries Mysteries with a holiday theme What's in the box?

#8652:	December 13, 2017	Jeff
Under The Sea The unexplored depths of our world's oceans. Does sea exploration interest you?

#8633:	December 06, 2017	Gaby
Inner Demons Dealing with your character's inner conflicts. How did you overcome your biggest inner conflict?

#8611:	November 22, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Medical mysteries Including medical information in mystery stories How are your characters feeling today?

#8605:	November 15, 2017	Jeff
On Location The importance of location in your stories. Do you care about the setting in your stories, or does it not really matter much to you?

#8591:	November 08, 2017	Gaby
Cozy Mysteries It's that time of the year where reading can bring comfort. What's your favorite mystery novel?

#8577:	November 01, 2017	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Play it Fair Whether planting clues or mis-cues, keep it real Is it fair to plant a clue (or mis-clue) in plain sight?

#8563:	October 25, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Under cover of darkness Darkness in mystery stories Who turned out the lights?

#8558:	October 18, 2017	Jeff
Unsolved Mysteries The upside and downside of writing stories where the mystery remains unsolved at the end. Do you like unsolved mysteries, or do you prefer stories that answer all questions raised?

#8544:	October 11, 2017	Gaby
Battle of the Sexes The characters we choose and how we portray them tells a story on its own. Who is your favorite superhero and why?

#8520:	September 27, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Don't make assumptions! Assumptions can lead your characters astray What if things aren't predictable?

#8514:	September 20, 2017	Jeff
The Relative Position of the Reader The pros and cons of a reader who knows more, less, or just as much as the characters in the story. As a reader, do you prefer being ahead of or behind what the characters know?

#8499:	September 13, 2017	Gaby
Luck Is On Your Side! The complexity of characters is important. Nothing is ever as it seems. How lucky do your characters consider themselves for surviving your gruesome stories?

#8478:	September 06, 2017	Gaby
A Genre Newbie We never stop learning. If we do, then we stop growing. Human nature is curiosity first and foremost. Work with it! What has inspired your passion for writing?

#8468:	August 30, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Means, motive, and opportunity Three ingredients of a crime Could they have done it, how did they do it, and why did they do it?

#8464:	August 23, 2017	Jeff
Lone Wolves or Team Efforts The pros and cons of characters who operate solo and characters who operate as part of a team. Do you prefer to write characters who operate alone, or do you prefer characters who are part of a team?

#8444:	August 16, 2017	Gaby
Characters may surprise us Learning more besides the obvious about your characters may not be as necessary as you think, or is it? How well do you know your characters?

#8432:	August 09, 2017	Gaby
Add some romance to it! Don't frown. Mixing mystery with romance can be quite a good read. Try it. Who's your favorite romance/mystery writer?

#8420:	August 02, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Preserving the chain of custody Don't mishandle evidence I found evidence of a crime! Now what do I do with it?

#8413:	July 26, 2017	Jeff
Long-Term Impact A look at how your characters and the events of your books play into the larger narrative. Which fictional character, if they were real, do you think would have the most impact on the world as we know it?

#8396:	July 19, 2017	Gaby
Poker Face Reading people and what they're all about can be very hard at times. Do you have a poker face?

#8386:	July 12, 2017	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Where the Mystery Takes Place Regional Mysteries incorporate the place where the mystery occurs as integral to the puzzle Would Miss Marple be a different person were she in southern California; what of Philip Marlowe if he lived in England?

#8374:	July 05, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
The devil (and angels) in the details Keeping your story straight Help! I've written myself into a corner. How do I get out?

#8367:	June 28, 2017	Jeff
Fictional Nations A look at the practice of inventing whole countries for use in fiction. Carpathia, East Timor, Moldova, Swaziland <--- Can you spot the fictional country from this list?

#8349:	June 21, 2017	Gaby
Hidden In Plain Sight When the clues are present yet invisible, and only revealed at the end, is the impact more powerful. What is your favorite mystery book and why?

#8337:	June 14, 2017	Andy~2021 has to be better
The Consulting Detective Solving crimes is often a three pipe problem Have you ever solved a mystery before the solution was revealed?

#8323:	June 07, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
It's still a mystery! Unsolved mysteries Who did it?

#8316:	May 31, 2017	Jeff
Everyman vs. Exceptional Man A look at two very different types of protagonists. Do you prefer to read stories about every day people or exceptional people?

#8305:	May 24, 2017	Gaby
Presenting The Evidence Study up on investigations before you decide to dive into that sort of writing! What type of crime are you most interested in writing?

#8277:	May 10, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Caught you! Apprehending the villain Caught in the act!

#8271:	May 03, 2017	Jeff
B & C Stories Besides the crime itself, what else is your mystery story about? What are your favorite types of B Stories and C Stories?

#8258:	April 26, 2017	Gaby
Make It Personal You may not be a murderer but you have to wear those dirty shoes in order to write about it in detail. Who is your favorite villain and why?

#8244:	April 19, 2017	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
How Did We Miss That? Sometimes the obvious clue is the right one Without looking, what's the color of your seatmate's eyes?

#8228:	April 12, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I figured it out! Solving the puzzle What does it mean?

#8221:	April 05, 2017	Jeff
Genre Expansion A look and genres and their potential to be expanded in new and exciting ways. Which genre do you think has branched out the most from where it's started?

#8204:	March 29, 2017	Gaby
Catchy Titles Hooking the reader before they get to the first page. How difficult is it for you to create a title for your story that you think would grab the reader?

#8192:	March 22, 2017	Gaby
Government Types While it may not always play a big role, the type of government we include in our writing can have a large impact. What type of government rules your writing realm?

#8179:	March 15, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
In a flash! Flashbacks and forward flashes Giving your readers flashes of insight

#8174:	March 08, 2017	Jeff
Esoteric Crimes Digging a little deeper and finding less common crimes to write about. Are you more interested in reading about unusual crimes, or common/familiar crimes with unusual circumstances?

#8155:	March 01, 2017	Gaby
Freshen it up! We're all tired of the same old when it comes to writing. Creating new twists can be quite challenging sometimes. Do you ever search for the right plot to your story?

#8130:	February 15, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
I can't remember Characters with amnesia What would it be like to forget everything?

#8123:	February 08, 2017	Jeff
Mystery Statistics A look at some useful numbers and statistics in the mystery genre. Do you find it helpful to your writing to analyze data and trends before starting a new project?

#8109:	February 01, 2017	Gaby
Who, why, but most of all, how? Mystery is more than just figuring out who's done the deed. What's the best medical mystery you can come up with?

#8097:	January 25, 2017	Gaby
Importance Of A Good Dialogue The conversation between two or more characters in your story and the way it is written is very vital to your writing Ever heard a conversation where you thought that would be a good dialogue to write?

#8082:	January 18, 2017	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Books within a book Mysterious books Who can resist a mysterious book?

#8077:	January 11, 2017	Jeff
Renewal Renewal What areas of your life would you like to improve this year?

#8064:	January 04, 2017	Gaby
Emotional Stress Finding ways to emphasize the emotional drama in mystery What type of emotional stress have you experienced which had an effect on your writing?

#8049:	December 28, 2016	Kate - Happy Valentine's Day
Quick! Who Done It? Mysteries tight yet complete Can a short mystery be complex enough to challenge the mind of the sleuth and reader?

#8036:	December 21, 2016	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
You have the right to remain silent The Miranda warning Do you know your characters' rights?

#8029:	December 14, 2016	Jeff
Character Over Plot (Even In Mysteries) Why character is the most important aspect of a story, even in a plot-driven mystery. Which three mystery fiction characters are the most memorable to you?

#8016:	December 07, 2016	Marci Missing Everyone
Different Ways to Tell Your Story How can you create an unexpected twist when writing a story? Show me the twist!

#8000:	November 30, 2016	Marci Missing Everyone
To Be or Not To Be - A State of Being Active writing vs. Passive writing - a discussion of using state of being verbs Fix the example paragraph in your own words

#7989:	November 23, 2016	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Chasing clues Sifting through evidence Is it a clue or a red herring?

#7979:	November 16, 2016	Jeff
Staying Motivated How to stay motivated when faced with real world troubles. How often do you find yourself having difficulty focusing on your writing because of real life concerns?

#7966:	November 09, 2016	Gaby
On The Edge The most important part each story needs is for the reader to want to know more at all times. What is the best cliffhanger you've read so far?

#7935:	October 26, 2016	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
We've been robbed! Stolen! Is anything missing?

#7926:	October 19, 2016	Jeff
Stagnation: Part 2 A follow-up to last month's newsletter. Do these reasons make you more or less likely to read the same genre?

#7903:	October 12, 2016	Gaby
Hearing Voices Getting to know your characters better through their own voice. Do you ever converse with your characters?

#7890:	October 05, 2016	Annette
Trivial Things Your life - no matter how dull to you - can be a treasure trove for others to find out about. Is it possible to tell engaging stories about trivial things that happen in life?

#7880:	September 28, 2016	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
An illusion or a lie Creating illusions without lying You aren't lying to me, are you?

#7875:	September 21, 2016	Jeff
Stagnation: Part 1 What do you do when your mystery plots become stagnant? Do you ever feel like stories in the mystery genre become stagnant or unoriginal?

#7857:	September 14, 2016	Gaby
Get The Job Done Figuring out what works best for you and your schedule What has been your best excuse for not writing?

#7845:	September 07, 2016	Elle
Life's true mysteries What secrets and mysteries dwell in the shadows of your family's history? Have you ever considered unearthing the skeletons in the closet and finding out just what happened to them?

#7828:	August 31, 2016	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
Mystery calling! Phone calls in mystery stories Hello..Hello...Who's there?

#7825:	August 24, 2016	Jeff
Mystery-Solving Team-Ups The benefits of solving a mystery with the help of multiple characters. What's your favorite team-up in mystery fiction?

#7808:	August 17, 2016	Gaby
What Publishers Are Looking For Knowing what an editor/publisher expects may save you precious time Have you submitted your work to an editor yet? If so, what was their reaction to your writing?

#7793:	August 10, 2016	Gaby
Location - It Matters! Figuring out the best location for your story and characters. Which place do you love writing about?

#7780:	August 03, 2016	Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
The things we do for love Mysteries of the heart What would you do for love?

#7776:	July 27, 2016