WRITING THE MYSTERY SHORT STORY: GUIDES FOR LEARNING THE CRAFT

With the luxury of the Internet, learning the craft of writing a short story is just a few key strokes and a click away. I was amazed when I began searching how many resources were available online, in many price ranges (from no charge to $$$) and for variable lengths of time. In compiling this list, I concentrated primarily on information about short story writing -- particularly on writing mystery short stories -- and currency of the materials or course offerings. Please feel free to add to this listing through your comments.

ONLINE OVERVIEWS:

According to Wikipedia,  eHow is an online guide written by contracted freelancers and offering step-by-step instructions on a variety of topics. WikiHow began as an extension of eHow and relies on volunteer contributors with the mission of building “the world’s largest and highest quality how-to manual.”

The following eHow and wikiHow articles offer basic outline overviews of the elements and skills needed for developing mystery short stories:

How to Write a Good Mystery Story

by Joe Turner

http://www.ehow.com/how_7165010_write-good-mystery-story.html

How to Write a Mystery Puzzle Story

by Ginger Voight

http://www.ehow.com/how_7727212_write-mystery-puzzle-story.html

How to Write a Mystery Short Story

http://www.ehow.com/how_2155797_write-mystery-short-story.html

How to Write a Mystery Short Story

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Mystery-Short-Story

How to Write a Mystery Story (with examples)

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Mystery-Story

ONLINE TEACHING GUIDES:

I grew up in a family of teachers so I really appreciate the value of good lesson plans. The quality of materials for teaching young people how to write is truly valuable, no matter the age of the student. I found two excellent guides written by extraordinary teachers and writers. The first was prepared by Joan Lowery Nixon (1927-2003), an American journalist and author for children and young adults. The second is the work of Penny Warner, this year’s Agatha winner for best children’s mystery and previous winner of the Macavity Award for best first mystery.

Writing with Writers: Mystery Writing

with Joan Lowery Nixon

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mystery/read.htm

How to Write a Mini-Mystery

by Penny Warner

http://www.fictionteachers.com/fictionclass/mystery.html

ONLINE ARTICLES:

The following articles are concise and comprehensive descriptions of the process of creating a mystery short story. What John Floyd packs into 4 and 1/2 pages is an amazing amount of information. All these articles provide excellent explanations and examples of how to craft a mystery short story. And, the only cost is looking them up on the Internet.  

What is a Mystery Short Story? And How Do You Write One?

by John Floyd

http://www.writing-world.com/mystery/floyd.shtml

Writing for Publication: How to Write a Murder Mystery Story

http://paradise7.hubpages.com/hub/Writing-for-Publication-How-to-Write-a-Mystery-Story

Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers

By Kathy Kennedy and Dennis G. Jerz

http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/

How to Write Mystery, Crime Stories and Detective Fiction

by Marilisa Sachteleben (Nov. 1, 2008)

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-write-mystery-crime-stories-detective-fiction-2143206.html?cat=38

How To Write Detective Stories: Story Writing and Plot

Write a Story and a Great Mystery

By Marilisa Sachteleben

http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a4281-how-to-write-a-detective-story.html

E-BOOKS:

The following are recent texts available in e-book and other formats. The prices are reasonable and the material is good quality. Bunting and Hoff offer online groups with follow up materials and support.

Allen, Michael. How to Write a Short Story that Works. (Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2009) (121 pages).

Bunting, Joe. Let’s Write a Short Story: How to Write and Submit a Short Story! (The Write Practice, 2013) (110 pages).

DuBois, Brendan. Breaking Into The Mystery Short Story Market: It’s No Crime! (Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2011) (15 pages).

Frazier, Rick. WriteCraft: Short Stories and Flash Fiction. (Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2012) (40 pages).

Hoff, Geoff. You Can Write a Short Story! (Geoff Hoff Online, 2012) (49 pages).

Parker Williams, Katrina. How to Write a Great Short Story: A Beginner’s Guide. (StepArt Designs, 2012) (51 pages).

ONLINE COURSES:

The following course descriptions (including  the sponsor, course name, instructor, dates of the course, brief summary, and cost) are listed in the order in which they will be offered. The courses at the end of the list are self paced and may be undertaken at any time. Please check the links to the sponsors and the instructors to obtain further information about additional offerings.  

LOWCOUNTRY ROMANCE WRITERS

http://lowcountryrwa.com/workshops/

http://lowcountryrwa.com/workshops/all-workshops/

http://lowcountryrwa.com/workshops/workshops-registration-form/

Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novels
Instructor: Rayne Hall

http://raynehall.brandyourself.com/
Dates: September 1 to 29, 2013

This course, including 12 lessons with assignments and feedback, provides instruction about how to write a story as a free promotion for your novel. By the end of the course, students should have a completed short story.

Cost: $16

WRITER’S DIGEST UNIVERSITY

http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/online-writing-workshops/how-to-write-short-stories/

Focus on the Short Story

Instructor: Mark Spencer

http://wdu.register.fwmedia.com/InstructorBio?InstructorId=67

Dates: September 5 to December 12, 2013

This 14 week course, providing weekly reading and writing assignments, provides instruction about how to write short stories that will delight and entertain readers. By the end of the course, students should have improved their skills and have written two short stories.

Text: Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular by Rust Hills.

Cost: $435

Class size limited.

SISTERS IN CRIME GUPPY CHAPTER

http://sinc-guppies.org

Writing (and Selling) the Mystery Short Story

Instructor: Stephen D. Rogers

http://stephendrogers.com/learn.html
Dates: October 1 to 31, 2013
This month long course offers the tools to help writers master the short story form. By the end of the course, students should have completed a mystery short story.

Subsidized cost: $30

[NOTE: Because the Guppy Chapter subsidizes the course cost, this class is available only for chapter members. Please check for other classes that are listed at Stephen D. Rogers’ website.]

UNIVERSAL CLASS

http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550055.htm

How to Write a Short Story 101

This self-paced, 11-lesson, online course detailing the fundamentals of short story writing and providing tips for authors may be taken over a period of 6 months with or without a continuing education certificate.

Cost with CEU Certificate: $60

Cost without certificate: $35

DEAN WESLEY SMITH

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?page_id=8597

Under the tab Lecture Series

Lecture #3

How to Write a Short Story: The Basics.

7 long videos by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, award-winning writer and editor.

http://kriswrites.com/biography/

Cost: $50.00