Elements of Mystery Fiction, The: Writing the Modern Whodunit
by William Tapply
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Book Summary Information
Author: William TapplyEdition: Paperback
Published: 2004-05-15
ISBN: 1590581156
Number of pages: 225
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Book Reviews of Elements of Mystery Fiction, The: Writing the Modern Whodunit
Book Review: Essential Reading for All Mystery Novelists and a Great Guide for Reviewers
Summary: 5 Stars
William G. Tapply has great credentials for explaining about how to write mystery fiction: His series of Brady Coyne mysteries have been providing much reading pleasure to mystery fans for decades. He's also collaborated on novels with Linda Barlow and Philip R. Craig. The fishing happy aspect of Brady Coyne's fictional life reflects Mr. Tapply's personal love for and great knowledge of fishing (and he's also written widely on the subject in non-fiction form).
When I'm reading a mystery, I often feel that something is missing. The Elements of Mystery Fiction showed me how to analyze a mystery to see what its strengths and weaknesses are. I'm sure my mystery reviews will be much better as a result.
As a non-fiction writer, I've never been able to figure out a writing process that would work with mysteries. Novels are much easier. You can just start from an intriguing premise, put the hero or heroine in a tricky spot, and let the book write itself . . . as Stephen King suggests.
Mr. Tapply thoughtfully describes the process he uses for writing mysteries. It's a bear! But I can see why it works. You cannot leave anything to chance.
Having seen the large challenges and bulky process involved, I can also see why many novelists prefer to write suspense books rather than mysteries. Those are much easier to write!
This new edition adds several new chapters that are written or contributed to through interview by other mystery authors and experts exploring:
Writing the Mystery Series -- Philip R. Craig
Standalone or Series Mystery? -- Bill Eidson
Seeing Double: Making Collaboration Work -- Hallie Ephron
Doing Business with Agents -- Fred Morris interview
Editing and Publishing Mysteries -- Barbara Peters interview
The Bookselling Business -- Otto Penzler interview
Publicizing Your Mystery Novel -- Jeremiah Healy interview
Persistence -- Vicki Stiefel
Of particular interest to those who want detailed writing help are Mr. Tapply's many examples of superb writing (from other peoples' mysteries -- many of which you've probably read) and bad writing (concocted to demonstrate what can go wrong).
And naturally, the book is brilliantly and lovingly written.
Get this book today!
Summary of Elements of Mystery Fiction, The: Writing the Modern Whodunit
The Elements of Mystery Fiction: Writing the Modern Whonunit has guided and inspied mystery writers?veterans as well as beginners-- for nearly a decade. Here William G. Tapply, with more than 20 popular mystery and suspense novels under his belt, isolates the crucial "elements" of the mystery novels that publishers want to publish and readers want to read--original plots, clever clues, sympathetic sleuths, memorable villains, multi-dimensional supporting characters, true-to-life settings, sharp narrative hooks, and, of course, smooth writing. In clear readable prose using examples from many of our best contemporary mystery novelists, Tapply shows how the writer can create the pieces and fit them together to make a story you can?t put down.This new expanded edition of Elements contains original chapters by some of our best contemporary writers and most prominent personalities in the publishing world discussing writing and business issues that are vital to mystery writers in the 21st century.
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