How to Write a Cozy Mystery: Step by Step: A Proven System to Create Reader-Favorite Cozies

by Natasha C. Sass

Ready to write a cozy mystery but aren’t sure where to start?Are you already writing cozy mysteries but need to streamline your process?Natasha C. Sass takes the mystery out of the writing process, using proven methods developed in her Cozy Novel and Novella workshops.This book will walk you step-by-step through writing a cozy mystery, including developing your sleuth, building a cast of supporting characters and identifying a solid suspect list that will keep your readers guessing until the very end.There’s no guesswork for you, the writer. Inside you’ll discover a solid four-act structure and how it applies to cozies. Natasha breaks down the story into chapters and scenes that will keep the pace and tension high enough to keep readers turning the page.By following her process, writers learn how to go from story idea to a finished fan-favorite book.What other cozy authors say about Natasha C. Sass’s method based on this book :See natashacsass.com for cozy mystery workshop details.Natasha is so knowledgeable about how to write a cozy mystery. She is patient and helps you work through any issues you may be stuck on in your book. Plus, the class is kind of like a small family. It's so much fun to meet with other authors and hold each other accountable! - Stella BixbyAs a pantser, Natasha's Cozy Novella Course helped me find a way to incorporate more upfront planning into my writing without being too confining or taking away the fun of discovery writing. The best part? Within a month I had a brand-new novella in my series. - Brook Peterson/S.E. MordhorstA really focused, well-planned course which was a lot of fun as well! Excellent value. It does exactly what it says on the tin, and there’s lots of space for having your own questions answered, and for exploring ideas. It hugely exceeded my expectations. As a beginner, I found it ideal. - Cary McGilvane

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2023

Reviews

[Lisbeth Mizula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having taken two of Sass's Cozy Mystery writing classes---I would take all her classes and read all her writing series books because Natasha reveals every step, what is necessary to journey from a vague kernel of an idea to a complete novel or novella. She's transparent so I'm not left feeling some part of the writing process is shrouded in mystery. It's all here, laid out, easy-to-follow in black and white.

This guide is literally taking me through building my story chapter by chapter. I'm very indecisive, and my procrastination skills are the best there is, or my cozy would be on the shelf ready to order. I have confidence my novel WILL be on the shelf once I finish all the included exercises.

[Helen Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-explained, easy to read, and really useful guide to writing a cosy mystery. There are lots of tips, templates to follow, ideas to consider, and a great chapter-by-chapter structure to follow. I wish I'd had this book when I first started writing!
This book is essential if you're considering, or about to start, writing your first cozy mystery book. It will save you so much time and really help you focus on writing to market which will make your readers happy from day one.
If you're a not-so-new cozy mystery writer like I am, you will still love this book. I picked up lots of tips and ideas that will help me improve my outlining process.
Throughly recommended.

[Britney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually rate nonfiction book I read, but I really enjoyed the content of this one. Super helpful!

[Simone Pond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been writing for over thirty plus years. I’ve read many many books on writing and they’ve helped tremendously, but this book is a game changer. Especially if you haven’t written in the cozy mystery genre before. I followed every single suggestion and had the best time working on my first book in the series! And because the instructions are so well organized, writing the next ones are going so faster! I made all year!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Game-Changer for Cozy Mystery Writers!

Natasha Sass's How to Write a Cozy Mystery is a gem for writers of all levels. Even as an experienced author, I found invaluable insights within its pages. The practicality of the book may seem prescriptive, but it's like a roadmap to crafting a successful cozy mystery novel. This book couldn't have come at a better time for me, as I'm gearing up to complete my series with three more books. Natasha's techniques for planning and brainstorming are very helpful. I'm thrilled to apply them to my upcoming work to streamline my writing process.

For newbie writers, this book is a treasure trove. You can start with Natasha's character notes and story structure right from the beginning, sparing yourself many of the pitfalls I encountered early on. What I loved most were the real-world examples from various stories. They helped bring the concepts to life and provided practical guidance. "How to Write a Cozy Mystery" is a must-have for cozy mystery enthusiasts, whether you're just starting or a seasoned pro. Happy writing!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely detailed instruction with so many good examples (but maybe I’m biased as a HUGE Psych fan 😂). This book does a great job of dividing and classifying the specific genre tropes and expectations in cozy mysteries. Craft books can be very difficult to nail down, especially when you’re covering a genre, but this book does a great job at first glimpses of the cozy elements as well as writing exercises and examples. Most importantly, though, part of the main advice is to read and research your favorite cozies and popular cozy sub genres. In my mind, this open the door for the reader to find areas of exceptional for this very detailed example of a cozy mystery outline. If you feel the need to stray from this advice, analyze what believe to be a successful writing and try to blend that into your own writing.

[Gem2wrtr · Rating 5 out of 5]

great method for cozy authors

A fun and in-depth book that will help cozy authors craft the best book possible.

Enjoyed the examples, but had a bit of trouble following them as there wasn’t always context for the whole series.

[Tamelia Aday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. It’s a valuable resource to any cozy mystery writer—a beginner, or someone who already writes in the genre. Great examples from different sources throughout the explained process.

[Jeanie Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-organized book offers chapter-specific advice for writing cozy mysteries. I purchased a paperback for my reference shelf. I strongly suggest this for cozy mystery writers; it’s full of great ideas.

[Miriam Ilgenfritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and easy to follow. I was already halfway through writing a cozy and this book just gave more ideas as well as how to flesh them out into a book someone else will want to read.

[Susan Wical Baughman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, learned a lot, am signing up for her class. Thanks!

[Serra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good step by step process to writing a cozy. How fast really depends on you, but she definitely outlines how to do it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide was descriptive and detailed. Such a great starting place. I really enjoyed it.