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Last updated on
8 September, 2007

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Mystery Novel
Cozies, whodunits and more
with Cindy Davis

REGISTRATION:

COST, LENGTH, PREREQUISITES:

No prerequisites.

Regular course: $200 / 8 weeks. Click here to register

Extended schedule: $250 / 16 weeks. Click here to register
Extended course gives you two weeks to do each lesson but contains NO additional material.

For questions about this COURSE, e-mail

Wikipedia defines crime fiction as “the genre of fiction that deals with crimes, their detection, criminals, and their motives.” Beginning in the mid-1800s with Edgar Allen Poe’s dark tales, mysteries have increased in popularity over the years; today they’re one of the hottest markets in the fiction genre.

Over the next eight weeks we’ll develop an entire mystery novel, including the crime, vivid characters, clues and red herrings, and new twists that’ll be sure to keep the reader, and most especially the publisher, reading.

WEEK 1: Knock Knock? Who’s There?
Characters are what propel our fiction. Yes, there are Best Selling books driven by awesome plots, but what do people remember most about Gone with the Wind? The vivid war setting? The contrasts in economy? To a point, but what most people remember is the relationship between Scarlett and Rhett. Think how lacking would some childhoods have been without Alice, Nancy Drew or even Harry Potter.

WEEK 2: Making the Headlines
Discuss the crime, the importance of research.
      1-The crime
      2-Setting
      3-Get the details right
      4-Research
      5-Timing
      6-Sensory Details
Assignment: Work out your crime in detail.

WEEK 3: Who Said That?
Point Of View
      1-Who’s going to tell your story? Why?
      2-Multiple viewpoints
      3-The strongest character
Assignment: Write the discovery of the crime from three different character’s points of view. How do they differ? Which one lends the most interest, the most possibilities for character delineation, plot development?

WEEK 4: So, What Happened, Exactly?
Plot, story arc, and climax
      1-Scene development
      2-Sequels
      3-Escalating danger
      4-Deadlines
      5-Climactic scenes
Assignment: On index cards, work up six potential scenes escalating in danger/suspense so that number 6 is your climax On six more cards, work up 6 sequels.

WEEK 5: Hey, It’s My Story Too!
Discuss types of subplots
      1-Theme related
      2-A surprise ending
      3-Escalating tension
Assignment: Return to your secondary character sketches completed in Week 1. Develop another relationship which will present a second story line. On index cards, work up at least four new scenes and sequels related to this. For grading, enter possible plot lines on a sheet of paper.

WEEK 6: Beginning at the Beginning
What’s the best place to begin the story?
      1-Three methods for determining beginnings.
      2-Action+ Conflict=Reader interest
      3-Opening lines
      4-Keep details to a minimum
      5-Strong characters
Assignment: Write three potential beginnings: one as the crime is occurring, one hours or moments before the crime and one weeks before.

WEEK 7: Drop Me A Line Sometime
Clues and red herrings
      1-Sprinkle clues, respect the reader
      2-Red herrings
      3-Lay your trail wisely
Assignment: develop/notate three clues and three red herrings.

WEEK 8: Set Up The Lincoln Logs
Construct your plot
      1-Lay out the index cards
Assignment: Write a possible ending.

Cindy Davis is a published author of both fiction and non-fiction. Her published works feature five novels, two non-fiction books, 150+ magazine articles and a column for a local newspaper. She writes in several fiction genres but mystery is by far her favorite.