What I’ve Learned While Writing a Cozy Mystery Series

Back in January I shared my exciting news of receiving a 3-book publishing deal with TouchPoint Press. At the time of the offer, only the first book was written, and since then I’ve been working hard on books two and three. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way while writing a cozy mystery series. Maybe after all three books are published, I’ll do an updated post about things I’ve learned after writing a cozy mystery series.

What Exactly is a Cozy Mystery and What are Reader Expectations of the Genre

One of my first blog posts was titled What is a Cozy Mystery where I outlined the basic premise of the genre. Since then, through both writing and reading other cozies, I’ve really gotten to know the genre. Asides from the basic outline of an amateur sleuth solving a murder without the gory details, a main aspect of the story is that it’s lighthearted and optimistic. A cozy mystery can show that an average person can solve a crime, making it easy for the reader to follow along and put themselves in the view of the main protagonist. Something that isn’t always easy to write but an important part of the story, is having all the clues and red herrings presented for the reader to be able to solve the mystery alongside the sleuth without making who the killer is obvious.

Sequels are Hard to Write (and it gets harder with each book)

There is much less freedom with sequels than with the first book, making writing one a difficult process. Now I’m building on a world that already exists. If something was written, a character trait or setting detail for example, in book one that might not fit for book two, I can’t go back and change it. I have to make it work for book two. Another reason sequels are harder is because I’ve already used up some ideas for clues and suspects for book one and need to avoid rewriting the same mystery over again.

And one final reason sequels are hard is Shiny Idea Syndrome. A new idea for a brand new book might pop into my head, but instead my focus needs to be on book two. This ties into how much more freedom there is to write a first book. That freedom is very appealing, and Shiny Idea Syndrome can be quite distracting.

What Works for One Book Might Not Work for Another

By this I mean my writing process: plotting, drafting, editing, etc. All of that changes from book to book as I find what works and what doesn’t. The process is always involving. Sometimes being a Planner works well for me for one book and being a Pantser (writing by the seat of my pants) works for another. I generally find being a Plantser (a combination of the two) works best, but even the way I plan and the way I write changes all the time.

Theme is as Interesting as the Mystery Itself

Cozy mysteries all have a theme that is usually shown in the main protagonist’s career or hobby. Since the sleuth is an amateur, they essentially can have any career outside of being a detective or police officer. Some themes are more common than others with literary or culinary tending to be the most popular. The sleuth could own a bookstore or a coffee shop (bonus for a bookstore/ coffee shop combo), or be a librarian or food critic. Some other themes readers tend to find interesting are crafts, pets, and paranormal. The theme is usually something that could be described as quaint or cozy, something appealing to readers who love to do just that: curl up and read!

Reading Often Results in Better Writing

Speaking of reading, the more I read the better I write! It’s inspirational, it can increase vocabulary, and it shares different writing techniques. Basically, it’s a great excuse to read lots because really it’s just homework for becoming a better writer.

There are five things I’ve learned from wiring a cozy mystery series, and I’m continuing to learn every day. Have you written, or ever wanted to write, a series? What genres do you like to read and/or write?