Writing a mystery is like drawing a picture and then cutting it into little pieces that you offer to your readers one piece at a time, thus allowing them the chance to put the jigsaw puzzle together by the end of the book. Ashwin Sanghi allowbookchance share on social
Writing a mystery is more difficult than other kinds of books because a mystery has a certain framework that must be superimposed over the story. Martha Grimes bookdifficultframework Change image and share on social
Writing a new play shouldn't be seen as a mystery belonging to a priesthood, but as a challenge, a technical challenge, just to get into it. Tom Stoppard belongchallengemystery Change image and share on social
Writing a nonfiction story is like cracking a safe. It seems impossible at the beginning, but once you're in, you're in. Rich Cohen begincrackimpossible Change image and share on social
Writing a novel about World War II and the French Resistance was a challenge both sobering and thrilling. Bobbie Ann Mason challengefrenchresistance Change image and share on social
Writing a novel is a huge adventure; when it's going well it's more fun than fun. When it stutters to a halt put it aside. Go for a swim, go for a walk, take a week off. Don't panic or be afraid; you and your characters are in it together. Trust them to come to your rescue. Deborah Moggach adventureafraidcharacter share on social
Writing a novel is a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay. Flannery O'Connor decayexperiencefall Change image and share on social
Writing a novel is actually searching for victims. As I write I keep looking for casualties. The stories uncover the casualties. John Irving casualtysearchstory Change image and share on social
Writing a novel is an act of self-annihilation as much as self-discovery. You can kill whole appetites and flood whole depths while plumbing them, but if you are serious about it you also get to put something into the world that wasn't quite there before. Andrew O'Hagan actannihilationappetite share on social
Writing a novel is an incredibly free experience. One puts one's self in a narrative mode. You can go off in any direction - the past, the future, or go laterally, or include one's own beliefs. It's total freedom. David Mamet beliefdirectionexperience share on social
