Guest Blogger: Sandra Robson – How I Write Mysteries

HOW I WRITE MYSTERIES by Sandra Robson

When I start writing a new book, I begin with a blank piece of poster board and a strong sense of place. A three-story, desolate-looking house in Newport, Rhode Island, an ancient white stucco church in New Mexico, a London street in relentless rain—the aura of an intriguing settling triggers all kinds of plot ideas for me. Once place is determined, I take photos and attach them to a storyboard.

When I wrote False Impression, which takes place in Stuart, Florida, I tacked up pictures of a white sand beach, the Riverwalk at dawn, the Sailfish fountain in the traffic circle, a 1920s house being moved down the river by barge, and a famous county road whose Banyan trees formed a canopy overhead. The result? A spectacular setting. All it needed was people.

Each character I create is usually a blend of two people I know—one for physical description and one for personality. I give the combo-character a working name, like Abigail (which may change by the end of the book) and write a biography that includes eye and hair color, height, weight, age, birth sign (an Aries will be different than a Cancer) place of birth, who her parents were, marital status, manner of dress, education, job skills, speaking characteristics, etc. I do that for every character, then dig through a pile of disparate magazines searching for pictures that resemble each of them. From then on, every time I sit down at my desk to write I’m looking at the people and places in my book.

If that sounds like a lot of work just to get started, it is. But the fun part comes next. I go down to my favorite coffee shop and find a comfortable corner. Then I sit there sucking down cappuccinos, one ear attuned to all the fascinating conversations going on around me, and pound out the first and last chapters. That way I know how the book starts and I know how it ends.

After that, it’s merely a question of outlining chapters 2 thru 6 (I work about four chapters ahead), following the plot, and trying to remember all the important stuff I’ve learned from the world’s amazing writers. Such as:

1) When you can’t get started, write crap. Sift out the good later.
2) Use only ‘said’ to carry the conversation. **
3) Don’t use ‘ly’ words after said. (Ex: He said, lustily.)**
4) Keep the story moving. When readers are bored, they flip. Try not to write a flipping story.
5) Don’t over-explain or pander to the reader. Let him figure out some of it for himself.
6) Don’t write six pages of description about ancient Chinese porcelain even if you’re the world’s expert. Every paragraph you write should move the story along.
7) Don’t write beautifully—tell the story.
8) If all else fails, walking the beach will get you out of a slump faster than scotch.

**Elmore Leonard,l I love you!

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Sandra Robson is the author of three Keegan Shaw mystery novels: FALSE IMPRESSION, FALSE AS THE DAY IS LONG and FALSE PROMISES. She has lived in London and traveled extensively in the British Isles, France and Greece. Besides writing, she loves reading, traveling, practicing yoga and hanging out in really good coffee shops. She resides on the east coast of Florida with her orthodontist husband, who always offers to help her with the sex scenes.