Mystery Writing

Who did it, what happened, and why? In these sessions, writers will craft their own suspense stories with interconnected characters that they’ve created and investigated together.

Topics explored include:

• Mystery writing terminology, including red herring, sleuth, motive, cliffhanger, foreshadowing, alibi, and more!
• Creation of tension and suspense in narratives.
• The retention of information to keep the reader on their toes, while still incorporating purposeful details to keep the reader grounded.
• Knowledge of how to build settings that inform the tone of the story.
• Understanding of mystery’s impact and usefulness in writing outside of the mystery genre.

Sessions will include mystery-based writing games, discussion, and guidance from the instructor. Each session ends with a group workshop, in which writers share and receive feedback from their peers.