“A detective novel should contain no long descriptive passages, no literary dallying with side-issues, no subtly worked-out character analyses, no 'atmospheric' preoccupations. Such matters have no vital place in a record of crime and deduction. They hold up the action and introduce issues irrelevant to the main purpose, which is to state a problem, analyze it, and bring it to a successful conclusion. To be sure, there must be a sufficient descriptiveness and character delineation to give the novel verisimilitude.”
Quote by S. S. Van Dine
Work
Twenty Rules For Writing Detective Stories
This book provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for authors looking to improve their detective story writing. It covers various aspects such as plot construction, character portrayal, and narrative techniques essential for creating engaging and well-structured mystery novels. more
Author
S. S. Van Dine
S. S. Van Dine, whose real name was William Stephen Van Dine, was an American writer, critic, and editor. His career spanned various fields including literature, theater, and film. Known for his detective novels, Van Dine is considered one of the pioneers of the Golden Age of detective fiction. more
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