“Life is replete with comedy, drama, horror, suspense, tragedy, romance, mystery, fantasy and a good dose of fiction. While at times the plot may seem to be lacking, the special effects alone are well worth the price of admission.” LifeWellsMaySeemsRomanceLife IsFictionFantasyComedyMysterySpecialEffectsDramaHorrorTragedySuspensePlotLackingDoseAdmissionSpecial Effects Author:Derek R. Audette
“It is a little out of touch to presume that someone wants to follow your every observation and insight over the course of hundreds of pages without any sort of payoff. That's why writing isn't a one-way street. You have to give something back: an interesting plot, a surprise, a laugh, a moment of tenderness, a mystery for the reader to piece together.” WayWantGivingWritingLittlesMomentsTogetherCoursesInterestingLaughingPiecesMysteryStreetsReaderPagesSurpriseInsightObservationOne WayPlotTendernessPayoff Author:Christopher Bollen
“I thought why not write a kind of mystery, murder, thriller book, but use romance language where the language plays completely against the very dark subject matter, that very strange murderous plot, but use that Harlequin Romance language.” WritingKindBookMatterPlayUseRomanceLanguageDarkMysterySubjectsStrangeMurderPlotWhy NotSubject MatterThrillersHarlequin Author:Chuck Palahniuk
“When I am thickening my plots, I like to think 'What if ... What if ... ' Thus my imagination can move from the likely, which everyone can think of, to the unlikely-but-possible, my preferred plot.” IfsThinkingMovingImaginationNovelMysteryPlotWhat IfUnlikelyMy ImaginationMystery Novels Author:Patricia Highsmith
“Do you solemnly swear never to conceal a vital clue from the reader? Do you promise to observe seemly moderation in the use of gangs, conspiracies, Super Criminals and Lunatics and utterly and forever to forswear Mysterious Poisons unknown to science? Will you honor the King's English? ... If you fail to keep your promise, may other writers steal your plots and your pages swarm with misprints.” IfsMayUseNovelForeverFailingMysteryReaderKingsHonorPromisePagesCriminalsStealingMysteriousPoisonPlotConspiracySwearModerationClueGangSwarmsMystery Novels Author:Dorothy L. Sayers
“Bangkok 8 is one of the most startling and provocative mysteries that I've read in years. The characters are marvelously unique, the setting is intoxicating and the plot unwinds in dark illusory strands, reminiscent of Gorky Park. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down.” WantYearsCharacterDarkMysteryUniqueSettingSettingsParksPlotProvocativeStrandsIllusoryUnwindBangkok Author:Carl Hiaasen
“Introduce your main characters and themes in the first third of your novel. If you are writing a plot-driven genre novel make sure all your major themes/plot elements are introduced in the first third, which you can call the introduction. Develop your themes and characters in your second third, the development. Resolve your themes, mysteries and so on in the final third, the resolution.” IfsWritingFirstsCharacterNovelMysteryDevelopmentElementsMajorsThirdsFinalsDrivenGenreThemePlotResolveResolutionIntroducingIntroductionMain Characters Author:Michael Moorcock
“A mystery novel localizes the awesome force of the real death outside the book, winds it tightly in a plot.” BookRealForceNovelMysteryWindPlotMystery Novels Book:Conversations with Don DeLillo Source: Conversations with Don DeLillo
“I really like the spooky twists and the intense mystery. I think the various plot devices work really well for TV, but they are still also in the spirit of Pretty Little Liars as a whole. I also really liked Spencer's breakdown in the previous season after Toby betrayed her. The girls have had breakdowns of sorts in the books, so it was fun to see that on-screen.” ThinkingWellsLittlesStillsBookWholeSpiritGirlFunMysteryTvsSeasonsVariousScreensIntensePlotDevicesLiarsBetrayedTwistsBreakdownSpookyToby Author:Sara Shepard
“When in doubt, the rule of threes is a rule that plays well with all of storytelling. When describing a thing? No more than three details. A character's arc? Three beats. A story? Three acts. An act? Three sequences. A plot point culminating in a mystery of a twist? At least three mentions throughout the tale. This is an old rule, and a good one. It's not universal - but it's a good place to start.” WritingWellsPlayCharacterStoriesThreeDoubtMysteryBeatsUniversalDetailsTalesStorytellingPlotTwistsSequenceDescribingArcsGood PlaceWhen In Doubt Author:Chuck Wendig
“Mysteries and thrillers are not the same things, though they are literary siblings. Roughly put, I would say the distinction is that mysteries emphasize motive and psychology whereas thrillers rely more heavily on action and plot.” ActionPsychologyMysteryRelyMotiveDistinctionPlotSiblingThrillers Author:Jon Meacham