As I turn my attention from romance back towards my cosy mystery series, I thought I’d share a couple of top tips on writing cosy mysteries. I’m still learning all the time, but here are three I always try to keep in mind.

 

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1. Know your protagonist and what makes them unique

To be honest, this is a pretty good starting point for writing any novel, but I mention it here because the cozy mystery genre is super popular right now which means a busy marketplace. Readers have a lot of choice, so you need to decide what will make your main character different to others. And I don’t mean surface level things like she wears funny hats or purple trousers. What are the character traits and ways of doing things that will make him/her different and unique?

 

2. Give them a sidekick (or several!)

Your character is going to need ways of gathering information so it can be useful to give them decent connections. Maybe their cousin is a police officer, or they live next door to a doctor, so they have access to some medical knowledge. Thinking about these things before you start writing can save a lot of time writing new characters in later!

 

Choose your setting well

The setting will have a big impact on the feel of your book and who your character is likely to know. It’s always worth brainstorming this before you start writing even if you’re not a plotter. For example, a small village setting will give a very different feel to a seaside one, and something set in a city will be very different to both of those. Of course you should write what makes you happy, but don’t forget to think about reader expectations too.

 

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

 

The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse – my latest read is only 99p!

(for a limited time only)

 

Amelia loves her life in Paris. But with the surprise inheritance of her childhood home, she has no choice but to return to the small village of Meadowbank to restore her great-aunt’s old farmhouse. However, returning to Meadowbank means she has to confront her past, including old flame Adam, the one thing she regrets leaving behind.

When Amelia discovers a locket hidden in the farmhouse, containing the picture of a mysterious World War Two soldier, she starts to uncover the secrets of her great-aunt’s past.

With Adam on hand to help restore the farmhouse, she’s shocked by his generosity after so many years apart. As her feelings for her first love reignite, Amelia is suddenly confused as to where she truly belongs.

Can Amelia finally find where her heart truly calls home?

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