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
Kristina Stanley 