If you’ve ever stayed up until 2 a.m. whispering “just one more chapter,” you already know what suspense feels like. As a mystery writer, your job is to create that feeling and maintain it. Suspense isn’t about nonstop action or big twists every five pages. It’s about control: what the reader knows, when they know…
If you’re a writer, chances are you started as a reader. Books were your first teachers—the stories that lit the creative spark. Yet somewhere along the way, many authors stop reading once they start writing. As a book coach, I see this often, and it’s one of the most limiting habits a writer can fall…
Why Cliffhangers Don’t Need Explosions to Work (and What to Do Instead) If you’re writing suspense, mystery, or thrillers, you already know your number one job: keep readers curious. That “Okay, just one more chapter…” feeling? That’s not just reader gold—it’s proof your storytelling rhythm is working. And the key to keeping that momentum? Chapter…
Because perfection kills suspense — and connection. If you’re writing mystery, suspense, or thrillers, you probably already know that tension is everything. You want your reader flying through the pages, whispering “just one more chapter” at midnight. But there’s a trap that many writers, especially those early in their journey, fall into. It’s the trap…
Why Typos Cost More Than You Think (and What to Do About It) You’ve crafted the perfect crime. The tension is rising, the clues are stacking up, and your reader is racing toward the twist they never saw coming. But then—A typo.A timeline inconsistency.A detail that doesn’t line up. And just like that, the spell…
You Don’t Have to Be in the Mood to Write Laptop open. Cursor blinking. No words in sight. Sound familiar? Let’s debunk one of the most common lies writers tell themselves: “I’m just not in the mood to write today.” Here’s the truth (with love):If you wait until you feel like writing, your book may…
It’s the one piece of advice most authors don’t like to hear: Don’t be afraid to kill your darlings. What?? But I’ve worked so hard on every single one of these characters, scenes, settings! How am I supposed to kill them? What Are “Darlings” Anyway? A darling is any part of your work that you…
A lot of authors come to me convinced there’s a sacred path: Start at Chapter One.March to Chapter Two.Trek forward in a tidy, straight line—just like readers will. News flash: that tidy line? It drives most writers bonkers. Here’s the trick nobody mentions early on: you don’t have to write in order. Really. You can…
Let’s cut to the chase. You want your book to be good. Of course you do. You want it to be moving, beautiful, polished—at the very least good enough that you don’t flinch when you read it back aloud. Maybe you imagine a future reader crying at just the right part, or laughing because your…
Writing a manuscript is an accomplishment to be proud of, but transforming your first draft into a polished final draft requires careful editing and revision. Here are some tips to guide you through these crucial stages. Take a Break After finishing your first draft, take a break. Partly because you deserve it, but also because…
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