I write mysteries. Sometimes they are more cozy than hard-boiled, but as is true with all mysteries, they tend to focus on the darker elements of the human personality. They focus on people who lie to each other, who steal from each other, and who harm each other. …
I am almost done with the first draft of Vacillating Vigilante! Only about 11,000 words to go (an optimistic estimate, to be sure). Then re-write, send to an editor, and then on to others who will review and give me feedback. And finally to publishing. In terms of the Blake-Snyder outline, I have finished the …
In the previous post, I described how I use Post-Its to work out the details of the plot, focusing on what MacFarland is doing, what others are doing, and key events that might affect the plot. The number of details I include in this phase varies from book to book, but some general guidelines apply. …
In the previous blog, I described the six threads I try to weave into each story. I also stated that I use the Blake Snyder plot outline to structure my novel. In this section, I will describe how I plot out the various chapters and scenes of a story. I will use the novel I …
Mathiya Adams, October 18, 2015 One of the challenges I face when writing my Mark MacFarland Hot Dog Detective mysteries is wrapping two story lines together. In my first trilogy (Avid Angler, Busty Ballbreaker, and Crying Camper) this challenge was not at all difficult, since all three separate murder mysteries were all intertwined with the …
Writing a Mystery within an Over-arching Trilogy Read More »