Elizabeth Spann Craig

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Posts

Crafting Seamless Story Transitions

Writing Fear Without Clichés

When Readers Guess the Victim Early

When Should You “Plot” and When Should You “Pants” as a Writer? 4 Factors to Consider

The Art of the Unlikeable Victim

Writing Outside Your Usual Genre: Pros & Cons to Consider

When Is Your Manuscript Ready for Other Eyes?

A Writer’s Online Presence: Starting With the Basics

A Capital Mystery Volume 2: Another Murder Tour of Ottawa

Why Creative Constraints Actually Boost Creativity

Building an Author Platform Without Leaving Your Comfort Zone

Rest Isn’t the Enemy of Productivity

Your Weird Is Your Superpower

Beyond Happy and Sad: Using a Full Emotional Range

You’re Not Behind—You’re Right Where You Are

When to Stop Polishing and Start Sharing

Stepping Back From Your Own Work

Conquering Overwhelming Tasks One Day at a Time

Making Tropes Work for You Instead of Against You

When Characters Wing It (And Why That’s a Problem)

Beyond Likeable Characters

Weather as Plot Device in Mysteries

What Kind of Mystery is That Anyway??

Draft2Digital for Distribution and More

5 Key Development Questions to Bring Your Characters to Life

Keeping Your Mystery Plausible

Mistakes Writers Make When Describing a Character’s Fear

Creating Unskippable Settings

Writing a Book with a Friend (and Staying Friends)

Editing Your Own Work

Keeping Timelines Straight

How to Create the Perfect Cover for Your Mystery Novel

Keeping Dialogue Interesting

Rounding Out Flat Characters

Give Your Bad Guy the Best “Why”

Last-Minute Red Herrings: Perfecting the Mystery Misdirection

Protecting Your First Draft Energy

5 Ways Novelists Can Craft Books That Inspire Change

Making Lists That Actually Work

Spreading Christmas Joy

Why Writers Need Deliberate Breaks

If You Confuse, You Lose: A Publisher’s Perspective on Author Sites

Showing Character: The Layer-by-Layer Reveal

Crafting Memorable Sidekicks for Cozy Mysteries

The Importance of Author Promo Instead of Book Promo

Feature: A Capital Mystery – Ottawa’s First Mystery Anthology

Strengthening Your Prose Through Direct Language

Why Beginning Writers Should Avoid AI

The Art of Keeping Readers Hooked

Keeping Your Book From Confusing Readers

Going Wide With Publishing

Simple Author Branding for Writers Who Hate Marketing

Creating Fiction from Real People

3 Easy Tips to Crafting a Compelling, Cozy Book Blurb