Formula for writing a cozy mystery literary

But also, lots of people have written lots of great, great literary fiction about the domestic realm.

For more great writing advice, click here. But you might be surprised to learn that the bestselling mystery novelist of all time is still Agatha Christie—and her timeless mysteries are quaint stories that leave all those gory details to the imagination.

Just last night a young man was murdered in our small town — a town that was recently rated the safest little burg in the state. This is what I think of as the four Es of reading fiction—escape, entertainment, education and empathy.

Or perhaps a snug little community in the Cotswolds where the meadows are green and the stones are golden. You want the reader focused on the fun of solving the mystery, not angry with you for killing off the most interesting character.

Cozy mystery beat sheet

If nothing else, a writer must make the readers care. Most crime fiction has to contend on some level with audience expectations as to form. Series are the way to go. It comes as no surprise that the theme remains popular. Am I somehow exploiting the heartbreak of others? Not murder in the physical sense, but murder in a fictional realm. The charm of these books is in the characters and their world. Cozy readers take a dim view of potty mouths.

Remember to give your protag a few faults. Perhaps it is perfectly acceptable to envision a place where the maid or the gardener can be the true hero.

All authors can benefit from the support of fellow scribes, and a great way to find that help is through a writing group. Usually within in the span of sixty to eighty thousand words.

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