writing

The Secrets to Creating a Killer Cast for Your Mystery

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

Here’s one of the first secrets unlocked for a mystery novel: There are mandatory
characters you need to set your mystery in motion.
The Mandatory Mystery Crew
You can’t have a mystery without a crime, and you can’t have a crime without the core
cast. These characters form the required foundation of your story:

  • Victim: Without a victim, there is no crime. They may or may not be dead when
  • the story begins.
  • Sleuth: The character who investigates the crime: your professional or amateur
  • detective.
  • Multiple Suspects: You need more than one character who could have done it. At least a few of these need to have the opportunity to commit the crime. Otherwise, the mystery is solved too quickly.
  • Motive: Each suspect must have a reason why they are a suspect.
  • Culprit (Antagonist): The character

Once you have your mandatory characters, you can fill out the rest of your cast with supporting players, such as a sidekick, a mentor, multiple victims or antagonists, experts, or characters who provide local color.

The Protagonist Rule: Why One is the Magic Number

One of the most fundamental principles we stress is this: A story can only have one protagonist.

This isn’t just an arbitrary rule; it’s about engaging the reader. The protagonist is the central character whose journey the reader follows and whose goal drives the entire plot. Readers need a single entity to connect with and root for. If they don’t know who to cheer for, they’re likely to lose interest.To help writers focus their energy, we identified three types of protagonists:

  • Single Protagonist: The most straightforward, where one main character drives the plot toward a clear goal.
  • Combined Protagonist: Two main characters who share the exact same story goal and stakes. If an event helps one, it helps the other; if it hurts one, it hurts the other. They must have distinct personalities to create necessary friction.
  • Group Protagonist: Three or more characters who work together to achieve the central story goal (like a heist team or a community). While individual characters may experience events differently, the group as a whole is either moving closer to or farther away from the main goal.

Defining this pivotal character is the first step in crafting an effective skeleton blurb for your mystery. For those of you not familiar with a skeleton blurb, it is a simple sentence that captures the heart of your story. Using only the protagonist, the story goal, and the story stakes, you can create a sentence that you can use as a touchstone for every scene in your story. I’ll write more about this in the near future.

I’m sure you already have ideas for your protagonist.

Want to dive deeper into story structure, learn how to weave in powerful subplots, and plant the perfect clues and red herrings?

Secrets to Writing a Mystery provides a full framework to support your creativity and set you up to write a commercially successful mystery novel. If you can’t wait for the next blog post, our book is available now to help you solve your own mystery and write your book.

Until next time, Lisa.

From the moment the children’s librarian walked a young bookworm upstairs to the Adult Department and introduced her to the mystery section…Lisa Taylor has been hooked on the genre.

For years, Lisa was an educator and librarian, honing her skills in helping readers and writers develop with curiosity and creativity. Now as an editor and writing coach, Lisa works with a small publishing house as well as being a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor and Certified Instructor.

Secrets to Writing a Mystery is Lisa’s first published book. Along with editing and coaching, she is currently writing an amateur cozy mystery series set in Northern Ontario.

Want to Learn to Self-Edit?

Join the Fictionary School for Writers and Editors

The Secret to Bestselling Fantasy:The Magic of Opening Images and First Chapters

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

The first page of a fantasy novel isn’t just paper and ink—it’s a portal. But how do you ensure your readers actually want to step through it? In our latest guide, Secrets to Writing a Fantasy, we pull back the curtain on the mechanics of world-building, starting with the two most vital components of your debut: the Opening Image and the Opening Chapter.

While they sound similar, understanding the nuance between them is the difference between a reader who browses and a reader who buys.

The Opening Image: Setting the Tone

The opening image is the very first visual or conceptual seed you plant. In fantasy, this often takes the form of “pre-text”—perhaps a haunting quote from a fictional ancient tomb or a snippet of a forgotten prophecy.

Its primary duty is to support two pillars: the external plot and the supernatural plot. You may want to check out Why Your Story Needs Two Story Arcs. You have a crucial choice here: does your “ordinary world” include magic from the start, or is the supernatural something that breaks into a mundane reality? Your opening image sets that expectation immediately. Here are some options for what this scene can accomplish.

  • Establish life-or-death stakes.
  • Hint at what the protagonist loves (and what they stand to lose).
  • Set the atmospheric tone before a single line of dialogue is spoken.

The First Chapter: The Engine of Engagement

If the opening image is the atmosphere, the first chapter is the engine. This is where genre-agnostic duties kick in. Regardless of whether you have dragons or starships, your first chapter can:

  1. Introduce the Protagonist: Unless there is a high-level narrative reason to wait, the reader needs someone to root for now.
  2. Define the Ordinary World: This is the status quo. We need to see your hero in their natural habitat before the inciting incident blows it all to pieces.
  3. Mirror the Closing Image: Expertly crafted novels often begin with a visual or thematic beat that finds its “answer” or reflection in the final pages of the book.

Case Study: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

In Secrets to Writing a Fantasy, we analyze bestsellers to see these rules in action. Take Fourth Wing.

Yarros utilizes a powerful opening image: a paragraph explaining that the text was transcribed by a scribe to honor the dead. This immediately signals that the stakes are lethal. She follows this with a quote from the Dragon Rider’s Codex, weaving the supernatural (dragons) into the very fabric of the world before Chapter One even begins.

When we reach Chapter One, we meet Violet Sorrengail. Her ordinary world is a library, but the inciting incident—her mother forcing her into the Riders Quadrant—has already happened. Yarros uses clever backstory beats to show us what Violet is leaving behind, proving that you don’t need a linear timeline to create an emotional connection.

Excel at the Art of the Beginning

Are you showing the ordinary world in action, or are you weaving it through backstory? Is your tone consistent from the first sentence?

Don’t leave your opening to chance. Whether you’re writing a grimdark epic or a cozy portal fantasy, the transition from the “Opening Image” to the “Opening Chapter” is your first and best chance to cast a spell on your audience.

Ready to build a world readers never want to leave? Check out Secrets to Writing a Fantasy for the full story.

Don’t leave your structure to chance. Stop guessing and start building a structurally sound novel, scene by sensational scene. 

Write Your Novel in 6 Months: Only 25 New Writers Accepted

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

On April 1st, Fictionary is launching our next Write Your Novel cohort. This is a comprehensive, 6-month journey designed to take you from a story idea to the final draft of your novel.

This program includes 3 live, 8-week courses to Outline, Write, and Edit your novel under the guidance of our world-class instructors. You’ll learn how flawless structure builds great stories and unlocks the secrets behind novels that sell.

Only 25 new members will be accepted into the April cohort to ensure every writer receives the professional eyes their work deserves. Join 100% risk-free for your first 30 days. Fictionary School Memberships then start at just $69 /month.

JOIN APRIL COHORT

A Proven Framework for Success

Fictionary Testimonial

We’ve been called “Peloton for Writers” because we provide elite, live instruction combined with our StoryTeller Premium software. No recorded sessions here. We are live online to support you. Our 6-month curriculum is broken into three actionable courses:

  1. Outline Your Novel: Use our story visualization software to build a story arc that works before you waste time on scenes that don’t matter.
  2. Write Your Novel: Transform from an aspiring writer into a confident author with a novel containing the must-have scenes and structure for commercially successful fiction.
  3. Edit Your Novel: Skip the vague feedback of amateur critique groups and use our expert framework to fix your pacing and structure.

Why The Write Your Novel Program is Different

We’re more than just courses. We’re a kind community where you can ask questions in “Ask-an-Editor” if you get stuck and join weekly check-ins that promote accountability and keep you writing.

By joining this cohort, you get access to our StoryTeller Premium software combined with live, interactive classes led by certified editors. It’s the ultimate roadmap to ensure your book is structurally sound and ready for traditional or high-end publication.

JOIN APRIL COHORT

Join 100% risk-free for your first 30 days.

From Shake-Up to Finale: The 5 Essential Scenes Every Story Needs

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

I’m thrilled to be a guest on the Rakuten Kobo Inc. Writing Life blog to share the 5 Essential Scenes Every Story Needs.

Every novelist wants to write a book that keeps readers turning pages until 2 AM. But without these five structural pillars—the Inciting Incident, Plot Point 1, the Midpoint, Plot Point 2, and the Climax—even the best prose can lose its momentum.

In this post, I break down why these scenes are the “make or break” moments for your narrative arc.

Check out the full guest post here: https://www.kobo.com/kobo-writing-life/blog/the-5-essential-scenes-every-story-needs

Romance: Keeping the Promise

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

One of the most common questions I hear when I tell people I co-authored a craft book on writing romance is, “Does it really have to end with a happily ever after?” The short answer is yes. The longer answer is far more interesting, because it gets to the heart of what makes romance such a powerful and enduring genre. If you’re new to writing romance, understanding this expectation will save you a lot of confusion and revision down the road.

Romance isn’t defined by the presence of a love story. Plenty of novels contain love stories — literary fiction, thrillers, historical, even horror. A romance is defined by its promise: the central relationship must resolve in a way that is emotionally satisfying for the reader. In other words, it must end with either an HEA (Happily Ever After) or an HFN (Happy For Now). Think of an HEA as “we’re in it for the long haul” and an HFN as “we’re together and happy, and we’ll see where life takes us.”

This isn’t a formula. It’s a contract.

When a reader picks up a romance, they’re entering into an agreement with the author. They’ll endure the wounds and fears, the complications and obstacles you put in the character’s path, trusting that, in the end, their heart is safe. The HEA/HFN is the fulfillment of that promise. It’s the moment when the emotional arc lands, the internal epiphanies click into place, and the characters choose each other in a way that feels earned.

An HEA is the classic version: the couple is together, committed, and looking toward a shared future. It doesn’t require a wedding, a ring, or a baby. It simply requires clarity: the reader closes the book knowing the relationship is solid, and the characters have done the work to make it last.

An HFN offers a future that’s hopeful, even if it’s not fully mapped out. HFNs are especially common in romance series arcs or in stories where the characters are still in transitional phases of life. The key is that the ending feels emotionally complete, even if the future isn’t yet spelled out.

If you’re new to romance, you might worry that this makes your story predictable or less “serious.” In reality, readers choose romance because they want that emotional payoff. Your job isn’t to surprise them with whether it ends happily, but to surprise and move them with how it happens. Genre expectations don’t limit creativity; they shape it. Mysteries must solve the crime. Thrillers must stop the threat. Romance must resolve the relationship. Readers want to feel hopeful and secure about the couple’s future. Within that framework, authors set their stories apart through character depth, emotional complexity, unique conflicts, and fresh settings. The HEA/HFN simply ensures that the emotional journey lands where romance readers need it to.

And readers do need it. Romance is one of the few genres that consistently affirms hope — not in a naïve way, but in a deeply human one. These stories remind us that people can grow, relationships can heal, and love is worth the risk. In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, that promise matters.

So yes, a romance requires an HEA or HFN. Not because the genre is rigid, but because the emotional payoff is the point. It’s what makes romance comforting, cathartic, and profoundly satisfying. It’s what keeps readers coming back. And it’s what makes writing romance such a joyful, meaningful pursuit.

To learn more about Happily Ever Afters and other romance topics, pick up a copy of Secrets to Writing a Romance. 

Post Written by Linda O’Donnell

Linda O'Donnell

Linda O’Donnell is a writer, certified structural editor, certified copy editor, and a writing and editing instructor. She co-authored Secrets to Writing a Romance with Kristina Stanley, and together they are working on their latest book, Secrets to Writing a Novel. Linda’s contemporary romance novel, Behind the Scenes, is coming out soon.

Secrets to Writing a Mystery

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

Mysteries offer readers a unique experience. As well as being drawn into the life of a character, the reader also enjoys the challenge of solving the crime along with the sleuth. The reader uncovers clues and examines all the evidence to deduce motive and opportunity for every suspect with the goal of finding the culprit among them.

Whether they lean into the emotional community connection found in many cozies or the sometimes gritty mental distance and challenge in police procedurals, all mystery readers appreciate the twists and turns offered by a mystery writer.

Mystery writers weave this web, building from the solid foundation of mystery structure that supports the strands of surprise. Writing a mystery offers a challenge by integrating the unique and surprising into a familiar and expected structure. For mystery readers, the knowledge that the sleuth will uncover the culprit doesn’t diminish the thrill of the chase.

Instead, it allows them to trust that the writer will include every clue needed to discover the truth. The climax can come as a surprise or a confirmation for the reader, but it always delivers a sense of satisfaction. The story world may be different than it was at the start of the novel, but there is a sense that at least there is justice in the world.

Writing a great mystery requires both meeting the reader’s expectations for specific genre elements and adding your story’s unique twists.

The desire to help writers understand the underlying secrets to writing a compelling mystery that meets readers’ expectations and opens ideas for creativity in storytelling inspired Kristina Stanley and me to write Secrets to Writing a Mystery.

Deep analysis of the structure found in commercially successful mysteries uncovered clues. By identifying what the mysteries have in common as well as their unique twists, we discovered a framework that we hope will inspire every writer to find the path for their mystery. In our book, we share insights and tips aimed to support writers’ creativity while equipping them with the necessary tools to craft their best mystery.

One of the first secrets we unlocked is that a mystery novel solves a crime by answering who committed that crime and why. There are different types of mysteries. We focused on three subgenres that encompass many mysteries: amateur cozy, amateur traditional, and detective. These types share several common aspects:

  • The reader learns about the crime early, often on the book jacket description or from early events in the story.
  • Neither the reader nor the protagonist knows who the culprit is at the beginning of the story.
  • The protagonist might not be in danger at the beginning of the story.
  • The protagonist solves the crime in the climax scene.
  • There will be multiple suspects until the climax scene.
  • In most novels, the antagonist isn’t known until the climax scene.

Do you have an idea for the crime in your book? Write it down. If not, don’t worry. The crime will become clearer as you make other decisions about your story.

I will be sharing insights and unlocking more secrets from our book to inspire your writing. From victims to suspects and clues, through structure and genre expectations, watch for new insights each week.

And if you can’t wait, Secrets to Writing a Mystery is already available to help you solve your own mystery and write your book.

We really hope you do, we love reading mysteries!

Until next time, Lisa.

From the moment the children’s librarian walked a young bookworm upstairs to the Adult Department and introduced her to the mystery section…Lisa Taylor has been hooked on the genre.

For years, Lisa was an educator and librarian, honing her skills in helping readers and writers develop with curiosity and creativity. Now as an editor and writing coach, Lisa works with a small publishing house as well as being a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor and Certified Instructor.

Secrets to Writing a Mystery is Lisa’s first published book. Along with editing and coaching, she is currently writing an amateur cozy mystery series set in Northern Ontario.

Want to Learn to Self-Edit?

Join the Fictionary School for Writers and Editors

Finish Your Draft in 8 Weeks

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

Are you ready to stop thinking about your novel and finally get it written? You can accomplish this by May 2026 if you really want to.

At Fictionary, we know that the biggest hurdle for serious writers isn’t a lack of story ideas—it’s the lack of a clear writing roadmap and helpful support. That’s why we’ve designed our Write Your Novel Course specifically for writers who are ready to commit to finishing their draft novel in just 8 weeks.

Our regular course price is $69 /month (USD). We are so confident that you will love the Fictionary writing experience that we are offering your first month for free.

Get Your First Month Free

Course starts March 2

Monday, March 2 at Noon ET. Each class is one hour.

What you’ll achieve in 8 weeks:

You’ll transform from an aspiring writer into a confident author with a novel containing the must-have scenes and structure for commercially successful fiction.

This isn’t just a theory course. It is a high-intensity, hands-on program where you will:

  • Write the essential scenes: We guide you through the key story arc moments, lead-up scenes, and reaction scenes that every successful novel needs.
  • Excel at scene structure: You’ll explore your character’s goals and resistances to ensure every scene drives the plot forward.
  • Build a structurally sound draft: Our process is designed to help you write a first draft that is as strong as another writer’s 4th or 5th version.

Why this course is different:

  • 100% Live Instruction: Unlike most online courses, our classes are live and interactive. We don’t believe in pre-recorded videos; we believe in real-time guidance. Please note: To keep the energy focused and the commitment high, classes are not recorded.
  • Weekly Accountability: You’ll gain access to our “Monday Check In” space, where weekly accountability groups keep you moving toward your word count goals.
  • Expert Access: Get your specific questions answered with our “Ask an Editor” space, ensuring you never feel stuck or alone in the process.

Why now?

The Write Your Novel Course is normally $69 /month and takes two months to complete. By joining today, you get the first month of live instruction, community support, and editor access at no cost. We are 100% confident that once you experience Fictionary’s courses, you’ll never want to write any other way.

If you’re a serious writer ready to finally see your novel written, we’ll see you in class on March 2!

Write Your Novel

The Secret to Bestselling Fantasy: Why Your Story Needs Two Arcs

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 1 Comment

The Power of Two Arcs

Did you know that every commercially successful fantasy novel actually contains two complete story arcs?. Discover how to weave a high-stakes external adventure together with a gripping supernatural journey to create a narrative that satisfies every reader’s expectation.

Most fantasy writers start with a spark of magic—a unique dragon bond, a complex spell system, or a world-ending curse. But somewhere between that initial idea and the finish line, many manuscripts stall because they lack the foundation to support such a complex narrative. If you’ve ever felt like your plot is a “jumbled ball of words,” the solution isn’t adding more magic; it’s writing using deep structure.  

Before you get down to the level of copy editing or proofreading, make sure your story structure is strong. You can do this while you write your novel, or you can do this during the self-editing phase.

In Secrets to Writing a Fantasy, we reveal one of the most powerful patterns found in commercially successful novels: the dual-arc system.  

The Two Hearts of Your Story

A sensational fantasy novel is a perfect balance of two distinct but intertwined plot lines :  

  • The External Plot: This is the universal adventure narrative. It is the challenge issued to your protagonist that forces them to leave their ordinary world. Without this, you don’t have a story.  
  • The Supernatural Plot: This is the unique factor that satisfies genre expectations. It tracks the protagonist’s journey from their first inkling of magic to harnessing (or losing) it in the final battle. Without this, you don’t have a fantasy.  

Weaving The Story Arc Scenes

The key to a page-turner is how you weave these two arcs together. Every story needs five core “story arc scenes” to form its spine: the Inciting Incident, Plot Point 1, Middle Plot Point, Plot Point 2, and the Climax.  

In a fantasy novel, that means you are actually managing ten pivotal moments—five for the adventure and five for the magic. When you align these scenes, you create a story that is both balanced and believable. For example, the supernatural inciting incident often happens right after the external one, proving to the reader that your character isn’t just on an adventure—they are on a magical one.  

The Guiding Light: The Combined Skeleton Blurb

How do you keep track of all these moving parts without getting lost? It starts with a Combined Skeleton Blurb. This single sentence captures your protagonist, their dual goals, and the high-stakes consequences of failure.  

Formula: [The protagonist] must [external goal] and [supernatural goal]; otherwise, [external stakes] and [supernatural stakes].  

By defining this promise early, you ensure that every scene you write—from the first goal attempt to the final resolution—works hard to support your story’s core mission.  

Don’t leave your structure to chance. Stop guessing and start building a structurally sound novel, scene by sensational scene.  Read Secrets to Writing a Fantasy and write your best novel.

New Release: Secrets to Writing a Mystery

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

The latest book in the Write Novels that Sell series, Secrets to Writing A Mystery: The Whodunit Structure is now available. Are you a writer ready to move beyond the basics and dive into the deep structure that powers commercially successful mystery novels? Then this book is for you.

Unlock the secrets to writing a bestselling mystery novel. 

This book solves the puzzle of deep structure specific to mysteries and guides you through an actionable, flexible process to outline, write, and edit a mystery novel.

Through the process, you’ll

  • Learn to identify your mystery type (Cozy, Traditional, Detective)
  • Assemble your essential cast of characters (Sleuth, Victim, Suspects, and Culprit)
  • Anchor your story with the five mystery story arc scenes.
  • Develop your story with genre-specific patterns and scenes.
  • Learn how secondary plots and subplots can be woven into the mystery plot.
  • Deepen your story by giving victims fatal flaws and anchoring culprit motives in personal stakes.
  • Structure the story by choosing the right POV strategy to control tension and effectively drop clues and red herrings.  

Use this book as a reference, and from now on, you’ll write every mystery with confidence.

As with all the books in the Write Novels that Sell series, we give you the theory—the why behind our recommendations—and you use the actionable advice to understand the theory and apply it.

Are you a writer ready to move beyond the basics and dive into the deep structure that powers commercially successful mystery novels? Then this book is for you.

Praise for Secrets to Writing a Mystery:

While reading this book, I kept thinking, “I wish I had this book when I wrote my own mystery.” Secrets to Writing a Mystery brilliantly demystifies the genre. It’s an essential, insight-packed guide for mystery writers. Clear, actionable, and full of those “ah-ha” moments that change the way you write. —Iris Applewood, Author of Fragrance of Forgotten Truths

You can buy your copy here.

Textbook for the Fictionary School for Writers & Editors

Secrets to Writing a Mystery: The Whodunit Structure is a comprehensive reference that provides the deep structural theory and an actionable process for Fictionary’s Write a Mystery course.

It serves to solidify and expand on the concepts taught in the live course, allowing your to internalize the techniques and apply them to your own manuscripts.

Thinking of taking the course? Our Black Friday Sale is now on. The Write A Mystery course is included in the Write Your Series Program.

🔥 Black Friday Deal: Get 40% Off Your Membership 🔥

For a limited time, you can secure your membership for 40% off the regular price. This is the best deal we’ll offer all year. Offer ends December 1, 2025.

Use the coupon code BF2025

Black Friday Pricing: 

Write Your Series: $281 /quarter or $899 /year (Reg $468 /quarter or $1499 /year)

Note we also have our other programs (Write Your Novel and Become and Editor) on sale too.

Commit to Your Best Novel With Series Membership Programs

Write Your Series: Eight live 8-week courses to launch your series are delivered by our world-class instructors. This program takes 12 months to complete and includes 64 hours of live instruction. StoryTeller Premium software included.

Use the coupon code BF2025

Top 3 Secrets for Writing A Romance

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

Ready to write your own bestselling romance novel? 

Join authors K. Stanley and L. O’Donnell for an exclusive event celebrating the release of their new book, Secrets to Writing a Romance. Linda and Kristina will reveal the top three secrets they discovered while researching the genre—secrets that will help you write a captivating story that readers won’t be able to put down.

RSVP to the Free Class in the Fictionary School for Writers. The first 100 people can attend live. A replay will be sent to everyone who RSVPs.

Tuesday, Sept 2. 4 to 5PM ET.

Book Description

Unlock the secrets to writing a bestselling romance novel. This book reveals the intricate structure specific to this genre, showing you the essential elements that make these stories captivating. 

Balance reader expectations with your distinctive voice to create an irresistible story that meets romance conventions.

Go beyond the “meet-cute” and learn about the scenes readers expect in commercially successful romance novels. Portray character growth and perfect your story’s pacing by writing scenes that build tension and demonstrate conflict. Drive your story forward by weaving in external and subplot story arcs.

We analyze six commercially successful romance novels with different subgenres and subplots. It’s exciting to see that each novel follows the story arc pattern but is still a unique story.  You’ll see the full breakdown of these books:

  • The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
  • Happy Place by Emily Henry
  • The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
  • The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
  • Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez
  • The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

As with all the books in the Write Novels that Sell series, we give you the theory—the why behind our recommendations—and you use the actionable advice to outline, write, and edit novels.