HeyJaredTHE TWISTED PLOT: Notes from a Mystery Author
This writer's take on craft and culture. Long enough to say something, short enough to finish.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 12
- Latest publication
- Sep 29, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest issues
The Arts Aren’t Frivolous (opens the original)
Read excerpt
As many of you know, I teach in the University of Nebraska Omaha’s low-residency MFA in Writing program. Although I’ve taught at many admirable educational institutions, this program is special to me. It’s the perfect blend of wonderful colleagues and bright, creative, passionate students from diverse backgrounds, coming to the program at different points in their lives, all excited to learn more about writing fiction, creative nonfiction (my two fields), poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, or y
Writing Is About Community (opens the original)
Read excerpt
So this week, I’m taking a break from my usual craft and culture essays because I’m busy with a lineup of events (see below, especially if you live in Richmond, VA). However, one thing I will say is that because writing is such a solitary process—at least initially—you don’t realize how crucial it is to interact with readers and potential readers. Yes, it’s very much part of the job.Subscribe nowI’ll admit, at first, it seemed intimidating to me. Of course, I was use
What We Talk About When We Talk About ... “New Literalism” (opens the original)
Read excerpt
A term that’s been floating around the cultural conversation lately is “new literalism,” and this week I’m going to explore what’s been said about it and weave in my feelings. Just to be clear: I come at this less as an authority and more as another curious and concerned mind. Don’t expect grand pronouncements! Actually, never expect grand pronouncements from me, but in this case, there’s so much that could be said, and I only have limited space.Subscribe nowIn an ag
What We Talk About When We Talk About ... Slow-Burn Novels (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Recently, a friend of mine who writes slow-burn psychological suspense told me that “slow burn,” as a term used to describe mystery and thriller novels, was a negative assessment, and that the reading world no longer likes a slow burn. I was shocked. She was joking a little, or at least exaggerating out of frustration, but it does seem that, for some readers, “slow burn” isn’t a good thing.For instance, here are a few comments made about prominent mystery and thriller novels. I won’t mention the
What We Talk About When We Talk About ... Likability (opens the original)
Read excerpt
I apologize for missing a week—I needed to finish edits on Goddess of Love; it’s now headed to the typesetter. So, this week’s word in my new series investigating terms that get tossed around by readers, writers, and industry professionals is “likable,” as in “This character wasn’t likable enough for me to continue reading” or “If you don’t revise this character to be more likable, readers won’t be into your book.” It often gets confused with “relatable,” whic
Publishing over time
Last 90 days. Choose a month to open its work.
Recurring subjects
Named in the text we hold. One piece can cover several.
Audience
No verified audience measurement yet.
About this data
Counts cover the work we have indexed. Tone needs enough text and a confident classification. Excerpts and episode notes are not full articles or transcripts.
Identity or attribution wrong? Suggest a correction.
See coverage about THE TWISTED PLOT: Notes from a Mystery Author