Question 1
Do you create elaborate outlines for your books? If so, can you explain the process (briefly)?
I’ve found that the more I outline, the easier it is to draft a book. It’s also much easier to revise it. The outlines for my mysteries run anywhere from fifty to eighty-five pages and are fairly detailed. They cover setting and character descriptions, introduce suspects and victims, and lay out clues and red herrings. One thing that’s been especially helpful is for me to label the day of the week for each scene, which helps prevent timeline errors. Mystery writers can find a free template of my outlines here.
Question 2
If you have a writing ritual, can you share that here?
For me, a writing ritual is anything you can do to make writing more automatic for yourself. My brain knows that once I’ve let the dog out, fed the animals, fixed my tea, and opened my laptop, it’s time to settle down to work. The writing becomes almost muscle memory, and there’s a lot less friction involved in the process of putting words on paper.
Question 3
What one piece of advice can you offer to a writer who has yet to tackle the publishing world?
Starting out with writing or publishing can feel overwhelming. There are so many ways to research not only the writing process, but also querying and promo. My advice is to take everything one step at a time. Set yourself a small, attainable goal each day. Maybe that’s just opening your laptop and working on your story for ten minutes. Maybe it’s spending fifteen minutes learning your craft by reading blog posts or books on writing. Try to make it easier on yourself.
Beatrice has more than presents to unwrap this Christmas.
In the charming mountain town of Dappled Hills, Christmas is a time of twinkling lights, cozy quilts, and enchantment. This holiday season, the tight-knit community is buzzing with excitement as they prepare for the most extravagant event of the year—local socialite Arabella’s legendary Christmas soirée.
As the snowflakes gently fall, Arabella opens the doors of her lavish mansion. Guests arrive in their finest attire, ready to enjoy the celebration.
But amidst the cheer and glittering decorations, a sudden hush descends when tragedy strikes. A mysterious death rocks the event, casting a dark shadow over the season’s merriment. As Beatrice pieces together cluses and discovers secrets against the backdrop of Christmas craft fairs and festive carolers, old grudges resurface, and trust is put to the test. She must uncover the truth to bring peace and closure to Dappled Hills in time for Christmas.
Learn more about the Southern Quilting Mysteries
About the Author
Bestselling cozy mystery author Elizabeth Spann Craig is a library-loving, avid mystery reader. A pet-owning Southerner, her four series are full of cats, corgis, and cheese grits. The mother of two, she lives with her husband, a fun-loving corgi, and two shy fluffball cats. Follow Elizabeth and learn more about her books by visiting her website at https://elizabethspanncraig.com/ . Writers, follow Elizabeth on X for writing resources: @elizabethscraig.
