Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories - By S.S. Van Dine (pseud. for Willard Huntington Wright)nnTHE DETECTIVE story is a kind of intellectual game. It is more--it is a sporting event. And for the writing of detective stories there are very definite laws--unwritten, perhaps, but none the less binding; and every respectable and self-respecting concocter of literary mysteries lives up to them. Here with, then, is a sort Credo, based partly on the practice of all the great writers of detective stories, and partly on the promptings of the honest author's inner conscience.

Advice on Novel Writing eBook - Extensive tutorial on novel writing by Crawford Kilian Foreword by the Author 1. Developing Efficient Work Habits 2. Elements Of A Successful Story * In the opening... * In the body of the story... * In the conclusion... * Throughout the story... 3. Style: Checklist For Fiction Writers 4. Manuscript Format 5. Storyboarding 6. Ten Points on Plotting 7. The Story Synopsis 8. Understanding Genre: Notes on the Thriller 9. Symbolism and all that * The Natural Cycle * The Natural Versus the Human World * The Hero's Quest: Mysterious or unusual birth * Symbolic Images * Symbolic Characters 10. Narrative Voice 11. Constructing a Scene 12. Show And Tell: Which Is Better? 13. Character In Fiction * The Character Resume 14. “Let's Talk About Dialogue,” He Pontificated * Some Dialogue Conventions to Consider: 15. Writing A Query Letter About Your Novel * The Letter Itself 16. Researching Publishers and Agents 17. Reading a Contract * Delivery Of Satisfactory Copy * Permission for Copyrighted Material * Grant Of Rights * Proofreading and Author's Corrections * Advances and Royalties * Author's Warranties and Indemnities * Copies to Author * Option Clause * Going Out of Print * A Word of Advice Afterword by the Author

Holly Lisle: Create A Plot Clinic - This is a Free Download, 40 Sample Pages. You can create a novel, short story, or screenplay plot from beginning to end, even if you don't know what you want to write about yet.nn *n Want to write fiction but don't know where to start?n *n Do you have a stack of 30-page novels that have stalled?n *n Are you stuck in the vast morass of your novel's middle?n *n Don't know how to figure out your ending?n *n Or do you have the whole first draft done, with the sinking feeling that something's wrong with the story, but you don't know what, or where?nnWith Holly Lisle's Create A Plot Clinic, you'll:nn * Choose and use the right structure for your storyn * Overflow with story ideas using twenty fun, easy toolsn * Organize your plot before you write, while still keeping it flexible and excitingn * Adapt your story to great ideas you have while you're writingn * Fix problem plotting as you write the book and even when you're revising itn * Deal with late, great ideas and your stubborn Muse without getting bogged down in endless rewritingn * And much morennEvery tool includes a description, a demonstration, and an exercise. You may need three or four days to get a brand-new working plot in order if you're just getting started. However, if you've been writing for a while--or if you're determined--you can have enough plot to start writing your book in about a day.nn*nnHolly Lisle'snCreate a Plot ClinicnTABLE OF CONTENTSnn * We Need Your Help ivn * Introduction: What Is Plotting (And Why Is It So Hard?) 3 "n o Plot Is... 3n o Where Plots Are Born 4n o A word of warning on dealing with the subconscious 6n o How Plots Grow 7n o The Seven Basic Plots (Plus A Mermaid) 9n o Plotting Is A Process, Not An Act 10n * How To Use This Book 12nn * Section I: Plotting Before Writing 20n o Structures 22n + How Many Plot Cards Will I Need? 22n + Usual Novel Word Counts 23n + Figuring Average Scene Length Wordcounts 23n + The Number of Scenes You’ll Need Is... 23n o The Three-Act Structure 24n o Character Structure, Single POV 28n o Character Structure, Multiple POV 29n o Cliffhanger Structure 31n o Organic Structure 32n o Timeline Structure 34n o Mixing It Up 36n * Section II: Tools—When Things Are Going Well 38n o Plot Tools, and Why There Are So Many 39n o Tool 1: Question 41n o Tool 2: Twist 46n o Tool 3: Cliffhanger 51n o Tool 4: Character 56n o Tool 5: Line-For-Scene, Take One 61n o Tool 6: Conflict 68n o Tool 7: Language 72n o Tool 8: Culture 78n o Tool 9: Map and Terrain 82n o Tool 10: Throwing Stuff Against A Wall 86n o Tool 11: Theme and Concept 91n * Section III: Tools—When Things Go Splat 99n o Tool 12: Awake—Timed Writing 100n o Tool 13: Awake—Word Games 104n + Goosebumps 104n + Pong 108n + Chase Your Tail 111n o Tool 14: Awake—Drawings 114n o Tool 15: Awake—Cards 119n o Tool 16: Awake—Making and Doing Things 129n o Tool 17—Chop Wood, Carry Water 132n o Tool 18: Awake—Bore Your Muse 136n o Tool 19: Asleep—Dream Journal 141n o Tool 20: Asleep—Dream Blackmail 146n * Section IV: Plotting While Writing 149n o Fix an Existing Project 151n o Dance With the One Who Brought You 158n + Rethinking Plot Points 158n + Changing Characters 163n + Changing the World 164n + Changing the Crisis 165n o Plotting the Ending 169n * Section V: Plotting While Revising 176n o No 177n o Line-For-Scene, Take Two 179n * Conclusion 187n * Coming Soon To Shop.HollyLisle.Com 190n * About the Author 191n