Mystery/Thriller
What Is Pastiche in Literature, and Why Is Sherlock Holmes Perfect for It?
What has made Sherlock Holmes so adaptable and changeable throughout the character’s original inception? Author Timothy Miller explains.
5 Tips for Writing a Domestic Thriller
Author Leah Konen offers 5 tips to help keep the goosebumps coming in your domestic thriller—from focusing on a small cast of characters to allowing yourself to be surprised in the process, and more!
The Challenge of Keeping a Novel Series Fresh
When the goal to write one book turned into 15 (and counting), bestselling author Ian Hamilton found himself being asked about the difficulty of keeping a series compelling. Here, he discusses the challenges of keeping a novel series fresh.
Writer's Digest January/February 2022 Cover Reveal
Revealing the January/February 2022 issue of Writer's Digest, all about finding success in 2022, and including an interview with bestselling novelist Lisa Jewell.
C. Hope Clark: On Releasing Two Books at Once
Multi-award-winning author C. Hope Clark discusses the whirlwind experience of releasing Murder in Craven and Burned in Craven at the same time, the first two novels in her new mystery series, The Craven County Mysteries.
8 Tips for Developing a Thrilling Espionage Premise
Maintaining tension and high stakes requires careful attention in the writing process. Ambassador Philip Kaplan offers 8 tips for developing a thrilling espionage premise that helped him in writing his debut book, Night in Tehran.
Philip Kaplan: On When the Book Writes Itself
Ambassador Philip Kaplan discusses how the characters came to him through the magic of the writing process in his debut novel, Night In Tehran.
How to Write a Thriller That Delivers
When you've kept your readers up all hours of the night turning the pages, then you know you've got a winning thriller on your hands. Author Wanda M. Morris offers 6 tips on how to write a thriller that delivers, plus examples from thrillers to add to your bookshelves.
4 Tips for Writing a Story with an Engaging Mystery
Any novel of any genre can have mysterious elements that keeps the reader wanting more. Author Christopher Parker offers 4 tips for writing a story with an engaging mystery.
Would Mystery Author Agatha Christie Make a Good Amateur Detective?
Would the master of the mystery novel be the master of solving mysteries in real life? Author Colleen Cambridge considers whether or not Agatha Christie would make a good amateur detective.
Sherry Thomas: On Cooking Up a Mystery
USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas discusses the process of writing the sixth installment in her Lady Sherlock mystery series, Miss Moriarty, I Presume?
Wanda M. Morris: On the Characters That Won’t Leave Us
Author Wanda M. Morris discusses the real-life incident that inspired her new thriller novel, All Her Little Secrets.
Robert J. Lloyd: On Traditionally Publishing a Self-Published Thriller
Author Robert Lloyd discusses the process of traditionally publishing his previously self-published historical thriller, The Bloodless Boy
Colleen Cambridge: On Honoring the Golden Age of Detective Fiction
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Colleen Cambridge discusses the process of writing her new mystery novel, Murder at Mallowan Hall.
What Forensic Science’s Godmother Taught Me About Writing Mysteries
Stephanie Kane discusses the impact of Frances Glessner Lee, the godmother of forensic science, and her crime scene dioramas on writing mysteries.
5 Things for Writers to Keep in Mind When Writing About Spies
A spy thriller requires more than a compelling story and clever plot twists—the characters need to feel real. Author Stephanie Marie Thornton offers 5 tips for constructing believable spy characters.
Gregg Olsen: On Returning to Favorite Characters
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen discusses jumping a decade in time with one of his favorite characters in his new thriller, Snow Creek.
Brian Freeman: On "Rebooting" Another Writer's Legacy
In this article, Brian Freeman, author of Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Treachery, discusses how he took up the mantle of a great series and made it his own.
Essential Versus Non-Essential Mystery
What gets a reader to keep turning pages? Author Amanda Kabak seeks to answer that question here.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Trying to Shock Without Value
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake writers make is trying to shock without value.
Jennifer Ashley: On Writing the Whodunnit
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ashley discusses how she writes a whodunnit historical mystery and the process of writing her latest release, Death at the Crystal Palace.
T.J. Newman: On Letting Real Life Inspire You
Author T.J. Newman discusses how her job as a flight attendant inspired her to write her debut release Falling.
FightWrite™: Why Writers Should Copy Fight Scene Formats
You should never copy anyone else's work ... right? Trained fighter and author Carla Hoch explains why that's not necessarily the case when writing a fight scene.
3 Do’s and Don’ts of World-Building for Writers
In this article, WD editor Moriah Richard tackles 3 important do’s and don’ts for writers as they tackle the world-building in their works-in-progress.