Suspense is a critical aspect of writing crime fiction. All the elements outlined below can help to increase suspense over the course of your novel:

Jordan Kantey is an editor, writer and writing workshop facilitator. He’s been helping authors develop their stories for ten years. He achieved his Honours in English Literature with distinction from the University of Cape Town. He has had poems published in several journals and an anthology. He blogs about writing craft and process at Now Novel and loves to help aspiring authors reach their goals.
Suspense is a critical aspect of writing crime fiction. All the elements outlined below can help to increase suspense over the course of your novel:
Learning how to self-edit your writing empowers you to polish your prose. Ernest Hemingway famously quipped that you should ‘write drunk and edit sober’. You need a state of mental clarity that allows you to be methodical when editing.
Fan fiction is a popular genre in which authors use existing fictional characters and worlds as the starting point for their own stories adhering to (or altering) ‘canon’ or the history of an author’s work. Learn more about this genre and its practicalities:
We’ve previously explored ways you can break out of a dry spell and get writing. We’ve condensed ten of our favorite methods into the infographic below. Pin, tweet, or share on Facebook with the writers you know who might appreciate a reminder of the many ways creative paralysis can be tackled and overcome.
The imagining of possible worlds is the staple of science fiction. Here are 43 must-visit sci-fi websites for writers:
Fantasy novels are full of varied fantasy character types. Read about 5 popular types (and ways to avoid associated overdone tropes):
Each year, PEN International marks the Day of the Imprisoned Writer in order to raise awareness about persecuted and incarcerated writers worldwide, but not all writers who have done time have been political prisoners. Here are a dozen writers who went to prison for a variety of reasons:
We’ve put together 53 of the best websites for romance writers. Enjoy these romance writing resources and let us know any you think are missing:
This week we have a bumper guest post: we asked several writers and lit bloggers whose work collectively spans nearly every genre from historical fiction to sci-fi to tell us about their top sources of inspiration. When you’re inspired to start writing a book of your own, try the Now Novel process – it’ll help you find your central idea and start making progress.