Free Handout

The Suspense Checklist for Crime Writers

This series of questions (click on the link below to access the PDF) are to be used as you review your (As-Is) Inside Outline to ensure that your outline (and your manuscript) are both shining as brightly as possible, and reflect the story you most want to tell. This is adapted from and is meant to be used in conjunction with Jennie Nash’s free resources on developing your Inside Outline.

Click here to get The Suspense Checklist for Crime Writers

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Interested in working with me?

My coaching practice focuses on novel planning, full manuscript evaluations, and revision coaching + brainstorming twists/reveals (which includes Inside Outline coaching) for thriller, mystery and suspense (of all kinds), as well as pitching preparation when the manuscript is ready. To discuss your project and how we might work together, fill out my form below to get started. We’ll set up a no-obligation free 25-minute video chat where we’ll get to know each other, you can learn how I work and get all your questions answered, and I can get to know your project and your goals!

Presentation links + further reading

Below are all the links from my presentation on Developing Suspense in Scenes from ProWritingAid’s Crime Writers’ Week in April 2023, as well as further reading I recommend on craft, revision, etc.

• PDF of full presentation from Developing Suspense in Scenes webinar on April 24, 2023 (6pm ET)

• Jennie Nash | Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out

• Jennie Nash’s Inside Outline Free Resources

• A post I wrote for Author Accelerator talking about the dos and don’ts of self revision

• A post I wrote for my friend and book coach’s blog, Emma Dhesi, about writing twists and reveals

• Rachel Aaron | 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love

• Allison K. Williams | Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

• Tiffany Yates Martin | Intuitive Editing: A Creative and Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing

• Lisa Cron | Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)

• Author Accelerator

• Recent favorite Mystery/Thriller/Suspense books (not an exhaustive list — there are so many good books out there!) :-)

  • All the Dangerous Things - Stacy Willingham (master class in twists!)

  • The Cloisters - Katy Hays (fab final twist!)

  • The House Across the Lake - Riley Sager (scary, and fab twists!)

  • The Writing Retreat - Julia Bartz (scary, very engaging!)

  • Shana Merchant Novels (4 and counting) by Tessa Wegert (fab writing, great sense of place, good backstory, great mysteries!)
    

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