How to write a mystery novel
When I tell people I’m a writer, they are almost always impressed. I can’t imagine why. Anyone can write. It’s a skill, like playing the piano or painting. Anyone can learn. But when I mention that I’m a novelist and write mysteries, almost everyone says the same thing! "Oh, I could never write a novel. How you do that?" I have to admit you write a mystery or any novel the same way you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Or to quote E.L. Doctorow, "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can never see further than the headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
When people still protest that they could never write a novel, I ask them if they can write one page a day, 250 words. Almost everyone says, that yes, they can do that. Well, 250 words a day for a year is a novel. Of course the novel won’t be publishable, you’ll still have to do rewrites, probably several. But the main thing is to get those words on paper. You get an idea, maybe noodle around with a character study, maybe do a rough outline, but you don’t have to. You can sit right down at the computer or take pen and paper in hand and just write. There is no right or wrong way. How long does it take to write 250 words? Probably 10 minutes maybe 20. Who doesn’t have 20 minutes to spare everyday? And I’ll bet you a chocolate-covered donut that soon you’ll be writing more than a page a day. My goal is 500 words a day, two pages. Sometimes I only write a few paragraphs, but often I will write four or five or six pages. Once I start writing, I enjoy it so much I keep going. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss your goal. The main thing is to have one.
If you’d like some tips and ideas on writing a mystery novel, go to www.silveradopublishing.com and sign up for my free writing course. That’s right, FREE as in no money! All I ask is that you come back here when you’re finished and leave me a comment if you enjoyed the course or how I might improve it.
Happy writing
Tags: free writing course, mystery, writer, writing a novel