How Mysteries Are Crafted From the Inside Out

Maryglenn McCombs and Richard Helms explore the creative process behind strong mystery writing. They discuss how character, setting, and craft choices work together to build suspense and guide readers through a story that keeps them guessing to the very end.

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How Description Pulls Readers Into a Story

Description, Editing, Writing

Description does more than set a scene, it pulls readers into the story’s world. Chris Reardon, Karen McCullough, Mary Ann Taylor, and P.J. Parrish explore how descriptive choices establish time and place, shape mood, and guide reader expectations. Using examples from...

Designing Character Journeys That Feel Real and Earned

Character, Craft, Writing

Bradley Harper, Jule Selbo, Lois Winston, Mitchell S. Karnes, Paul McHugh, and Wendy Gee explore how characters grow and change across a story. They discuss transformation, motivation, and emotional continuity that create satisfying narrative arcs.

Firearms: Getting It Right

Weapons, Writing

Firearms mistakes can instantly pull readers out of a story. In this session, Jeff Shaw gives writers a clear, practical foundation in firearms, covering shotguns, rifles, and handguns. The focus is on accuracy and realism, helping authors write action scenes and...

How Mysteries Are Crafted From the Inside Out

How Description Pulls Readers Into a Story

Designing Character Journeys That Feel Real and Earned

Firearms: Getting It Right

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