Short, Sharp, and Shocking: Writing Mystery Short Stories

Presented by: Art Taylor | Barb Goffman | Gigi Pandian | Harriet Sackler | John Shepard

Categories: Impact | Short Story | Technique

Mystery short stories deliver powerful impact in a limited space. In this session, authors share techniques for building tension, developing character, and crafting satisfying twists within a shorter word count while keeping readers fully engaged.

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

Check out these other resources:

Choosing the Right Details That Keep a Story Moving

Description, Writing

Great description brings a story to life while keeping it moving. Baron R. Birtcher, D.R. Ransdell, Jim Nesbitt, K.L. Murphy, MaryJean Zajac, and Michael Bradley share examples from their own work to show how they balance vivid detail with narrative drive. Writers...

Making Chaos Clear: Writing Action Without Confusing the Reader

Action, Writing

John Thompson, Kelly Nichols, and Louis Martin dive into the mechanics of writing action that is vivid, clean, and impossible to skim. This session focuses on clarity under pressure, physical realism, and pacing choices that keep scenes intense while making every...

How Forensic Identification Cracks Cases

Forensic Identification, Writing

How do investigators use forensic identification to close cases that seem unsolvable? Mike Tabor walks listeners through real cases where identification evidence made the critical difference. This session gives writers a clear understanding of how forensic science is...

Short, Sharp, and Shocking: Writing Mystery Short Stories

Choosing the Right Details That Keep a Story Moving

Making Chaos Clear: Writing Action Without Confusing the Reader

How Forensic Identification Cracks Cases

Explore

Learn

Ready to join?