Considering submitting a short story to our annual contest? Contemplating your first–or next–crime novel?
Member Mike Alvarez will give us the basics–and more–next Saturday. Be there for an informative and fun hour. And be ready to take notes!
Here’s Mike’s outline:
A brief discussion of the origin of the mystery, and a review of the seven essential elements every successful mystery must have. Also a discussion of the importance and impact of recent forensic developments, and how they have been used in recent fiction.
Other topics covered in this presentation:
1. The “Play Fair” Doctrine, and how to use it
2. “Suspense” is both an element of fiction and a genre
3. Create a solid “fictional framework” to sustain your story
4. The Seven Basic Elements of a Mystery
5. MMO is an acronym you should use in every mystery
6. Using DNA in the modern mystery
Michael Alvarez
Prime Suspect for Saturday Meeting Speaker
Michael M. Alvarez is a native Arizonan and a member of the Arizona Mystery Writers and the Society of Southwestern Authors.
His stories and articles have appeared in the Arizona Daily Star and Writer’s Digest. His award-winning short story, “The Human Element,” was included in the 1994 anthology, Computer Legends, Lies and Lore.
His published books include The Last Place God Made, Deliver Us from Evil, Kino’s Gold, The Treasure of the Santa Ritas (Young Adult), and Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Writers (a book about writers and the writing life).
Mike lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he has taught writing at Pima Community College since 1990.
The Zoom link is in the monthly newsletter. If you don’t yet subscribe, please contact the Membership Chair at membership@arizonamysterywriters.com.
