This is post 6 of 6 in the series “Plotting Foundations & Hooks” 5 Mistakes That Make a Cozy Mystery Flat — And How to Fix Them 7 Plot Hooks That Instantly Grab Readers in Cozy Mysteries Plot Hook: The Body at the Worst Possible Event Plot Hook: The Return of a Controversial Figure How to Keep Readers Guessing Without Frustrating Them Crafting Scenes That Move the Cozy Mystery Forward One of the most common issues in cozy mystery manuscripts isn’t the premise. It isn’t the characters. It isn’t even the mystery itself. It’s the scenes. Too many scenes feel pleasant… but static. Charming… but unnecessary. They exist, but they…

This is post 5 of 6 in the series “Plotting Foundations & Hooks” 5 Mistakes That Make a Cozy Mystery Flat — And How to Fix Them 7 Plot Hooks That Instantly Grab Readers in Cozy Mysteries Plot Hook: The Body at the Worst Possible Event Plot Hook: The Return of a Controversial Figure How to Keep Readers Guessing Without Frustrating Them Crafting Scenes That Move the Cozy Mystery Forward Red herrings are one of the most satisfying tools in a cozy mystery writer’s toolbox—when they’re done well. When they’re not, they’re the fastest way to make a reader feel tricked, annoyed, or worse… disengaged. The goal isn’t to fool…

This is post 4 of 6 in the series “Plotting Foundations & Hooks” 5 Mistakes That Make a Cozy Mystery Flat — And How to Fix Them 7 Plot Hooks That Instantly Grab Readers in Cozy Mysteries Plot Hook: The Body at the Worst Possible Event Plot Hook: The Return of a Controversial Figure How to Keep Readers Guessing Without Frustrating Them Crafting Scenes That Move the Cozy Mystery Forward Why bringing someone back to town is one of the strongest cozy mystery hooks you can use There’s something inherently unsettling about a familiar face reappearing after years away—especially when no one is particularly happy to see them. In a…