The Power of “No,” The Power of “Yes” in Creating Stories

Presented by: Jule Selbo
Categories: Craft | Mystery | Writing

Every story moves forward through decisions about what to reveal and what to withhold. Jule Selbo examines how strategic use of denial and permission drives suspense and conflict in crime and mystery fiction. This session focuses on controlling information to keep readers emotionally invested and eager for the next turn.

To access this content, please sign up as a member.

Check out these other resources:

The Truth About Psychopaths

The Truth About Psychopaths

Psychopathy is often misunderstood and exaggerated in fiction. Professor Stephen Benning explains what psychopathy actually is, how it is identified, and why diagnosis depends on more than surface behavior. Writers gain insight into how psychopaths perceive themselves...

Using Description to Set the Tone of Your Story

Using Description to Set the Tone of Your Story

Tone shapes how readers experience every scene. Alana White leads Becki Willis, Matthew John Meagher, and Nicholas Holloway in a discussion on how descriptive language establishes mood and emotional resonance across genres. This session shows how careful word choices...

Small Towns vs. Big Cities in Crime Fiction

Small Towns vs. Big Cities in Crime Fiction

Setting can completely change the way a crime story unfolds. In this session, authors compare writing mysteries set in close-knit small towns with those set in busy cities, exploring how each environment shapes atmosphere, suspects, investigations, and the kinds of...