Suzanne Bowditch's Blog, page 5
August 13, 2018
How to create an outline for a cosy mystery.
How to create an outline for a cosy mystery.
I’m writing the second book in the Stella Windemere murder mystery series, with ideas, plotlines and character formations for at least the next two books. It’ll be called Stella Windermere: The case of the drowned man, and will be out Christmas, 2018. Exciting times!
The first book Stella Windermere: The case of the Polish sailor is available on my author page, was written in my home town in south Wales and was the original idea for the creation of the book, and the series that will follow.
But what makes a good cosy mystery? What elements of the story need to be adhered to, for your plot to flow, and for your characters to become fully formed people that readers want to read about, again and again?
Here are some tips that I’ve learnt along the way. Some writers like to follow this method, while other writers like to ‘go with the flow,’ and see what happens when they start their story.
I’m a bit of both. I like to have the ideas, plots, characters, setting in my head, then start to write, for I find too much rigidity stunts creativity:
At what stage in the book, should the body turn up?
A cosy mystery should have a body show up at least 20-25 pages into the book. Too much procrastination at the start tends to be boring for your reader, and publishers like it that way too. Like any good PG Woodhouse or Agatha Christie, your readers like to start unravelling the puzzle straight away.
What weapon of choice?
A cosy mystery is not a thriller. There doesn’t need to be a lot of gore or descriptions of gore, or even much forensics going on. A simple, stabbing, strangulation, drowning or even a fall downstairs (pushed, naturally) is enough in a cosy mystery genre.
Should there be swearing in the cosy mystery?
Believe it or not, a lot of readers don’t like swear words in a cosy mystery. They like to sit back and enjoy the puzzling murder/s without having to deal with a blasphemous word on every page. Its all about the illusion, not the reality, the escapism, not the gore.
The Plotline
This is the main structure of your book and needs to flow well and have a hint of a puzzle that makes the reader think. So, you must have a couple of red herrings, such as an obvious ‘bad’ character that could be the murderer, mixed up with a quaint ‘good’ character that has hidden murderous depths; that’ll be your ‘twist.’ It changes with each story you write, and can be changed up, but these elements help a plot run along.
Should there be humour in your cosy mystery?
Yes. Humour is what makes a cosy mystery so unique, because you have a serious element (a murder) coupled with an amateur sleuth/bumbling detective element (with their own unique traits, humour, hobbies, and you can go wild here!) that adds to the setting and plotline, so it becomes humorous, as an escape from reality for your reader. Its can be subtle, or more obvious, but the light-hearted element needs to be there.
So there you go! With these elements in place, there should be some elements that will flow, some that may need working on, but with story prompts and outlines, a cosy mystery can be created.
Happy writing everyone! 
August 9, 2018
Rainbow Cake
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Just a quick its- the- weekend-coming- up- post- to share with you this cake!
I had coffee and cheesecake in my favorite coffee shop, and my daughter ordered this cake. It was as delicious to taste as it was to look at!
I’ve had a pretty creative week. I gave myself a writing goal, to get motivated in my next cozy mystery; Stella Windermere: The case of the Drowned Man. I’m planning on releasing it before Christmas 2018, so had a writing goal if 1,000 words a day. Since Sunday I’ve written over 8,000 words so very pleased.
I can now enjoy the weekend, and continue the plotlines….!
Have a great weekend everyone!
#creativity#writer #writerslife #stellawindermerethecaseofthedrownedman #cake 
August 8, 2018
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Weak Character Voice
Most Common Writing Mistakes: Weak Character Voice
Voice. That tantalizingly nebulous word is flung around so often in writing critiques and agent demands that writers sometimes get to where we almost hate the sound of it. Every author is supposed to cultivate a unique voice. But, even more than that, we’re also supposed to create a unique character voice for every one of our players.
But how do we do that? Well, we start by creating unique character personalities—and, if we’re lucky, character voice will just flow right out of those vibrant personalities. Sounds good, all right. So let’s say you’ve created that super-duper, unique character. He’s a wise-guy kid who’s headed for the European theater in World War II. His voice is thick in your head, and his personality seems to be bubbling right out onto the page.
But beta readers aren’t getting it.
“I don’t hear his…
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July 30, 2018
Oscar Wilde quote
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The Irish writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), is one of the themes on my Masters this week, and I’m reading his play The Importance of Being Earnest, which I’m loving and studying the complexity of the man behind the writer.
It’s a play about keeping true to ones own Self even in diversity. The theme of Self-Identity is very much in vogue at the moment, with the female empowerment movement #MeToo, and the numerous TV shows that depict Heroes/Heroines and their search/quest/journey for fulfillment, both externally and as an innate part of our own psyche.
Its been a busy week so far, and I have a study group booked for the weekend, which I’m looking forward to. Online study is very flexible and suits my lifestyle but it can be difficult to motivate yourself to study. Sharing ideas and thoughts keeps study lively!
July 26, 2018
My favourite place: Brisbane
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We spent the weekend up in Brisbane last week, which is rapidly becoming my new go – to place.
They had a Food and Wine Festival on, with the chefs from the TV show Masterchef Australia, as well as Miguel the chef from another Aussie TV show, the Living Room. The Southbank area of Brisbane is looking so cool now- they’ve managed to create an easy style entertainment area for families and couples alike, that’s way better than how it looked before the floods of 2012.
It was so busy up there, but we managed to find a quiet corner and have a drink and paella.
On the writing front, I’m busy editing my new book The Zealand Girl, plus writing a murder mystery, the second one of the Stella Windermere series which I love writing.
I’ve also started back at uni, and have a few writing projects to create, which I’ll be sharing.
Have a great weekend, fellow creatives!
July 12, 2018
Art Exhibit
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I took this photograph of my daughter’s latest art project this week. We went up the school to the exhibition the other evening. Its acrylics on canvas, inspired by Picasso’s sunflowers with a twist.
Its been a hectic week so far, as I’ve started back at university. As usual, its full on. I’m doing another YA unit, and my work seems to be heading in this direction at the moment.
Having said that, I still have my book The Zealand Girl ready to be published. Its almost done editing (is anyone ever happy with the editing process?). So, its going to be sent to publishers….I think I want it to go the traditional route this time.
So, keep writing ! I’ll have more stories to share in the coming weeks.
Have a great week! 
July 2, 2018
10 Ways to Improve Your Creative Writing
So many good writing tips here! Thank you to The Content Fair.
June 28, 2018
Guess who’s coming for breakfast?
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I had to share these photos, taken early this morning on my back fence. I live in a rural street on the Gold Coast hinterland – just one street away we’re in bushland, right through to Uluru (Ayres Rock).
The cockatoos are a familiar sight, flying high above us and perching in the forest opposite my house. But this morning they chose to perch on next door’s roof! I went out my back to take a closer look and put nutty cereal along the fence and they flew over to take some. Needless to say, my dog Billy was not impressed – I had to lock him inside the house while I took these photos.
Cockatoos are regarded as a nuisance to some Australians, mainly because they’ve been known to cause the destruction of fences and rip apart fruits off trees and then throw the fruit, damaging and bruising it – they like mangoes in particular!
I think they’re beautiful, graceful and very intelligent, and was pleased to see them this morning….it made my day.
#cockatoos #australiannatives #lifestyle 
June 23, 2018
Art light
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I took a photograph of this cool light fitting at my favorite shopping mall on the Gold Coast – Pacific Fair Shopping Mall.
We went there early today, to a bargain clothes show that was being held in the Art Exhibition Centre. Everything was just $2 including men & womens clothing and childrens. There were brand names too, so we had a few bargains! Its all for charity so we’ll be supporting the next one at the end of the year.
After all that shopping, brunch was the order of the day…plus more shopping! This pic was taken after ordering a well deserved coffee and we sitting under the arty light…very contemporary isn’t it ?
Have a great creative weekend!
#creativity #writer #writerslife 
