The Creative Writing Blog

Sarah Pearse is having somewhat of a dream writing career – after publishing two suspense novels (The Sanatorium in 2021, and The Retreat, published in 2022) Sarah is a double New York...

We were thrilled to be joined by A. A. Dhand for a live Q&A this month with our writers. It was such an insightful session that we decided to share a little bit here on our...

Sarah Vaughan is the author of five novels, including the instant international bestseller Anatomy of a Scandal, which has been translated into twenty-four languages and adapted into a hit series...

The crime genre can be a wonderful playground for writers, where they get to push boundaries, explore human nature, play with reader expectations, and find inventive ways to create suspense. But...

Are you curious about how to write a murder mystery? The endeavour can be baffling and thrilling in equal measure. If you want to try your hand at murder mysteries, try these five top tips...

Suspense writing is an amorphous and multifaceted concept, but Kate Riordan wants to make it straightforward.

Having written five novels – including the Richard and Judy book club pick The...

As you set about writing – or editing – a gripping novel, you might come up against the question of how to add tension to your story. Maybe you’ve got a great idea that packs in...

If you’re curious about what it takes to write a memorable story, you can bet Jack Jordan has a trick or two up his sleeve. Jack is a global number one bestselling author of six gripping...

The closed circle is a beloved sub-genre of mystery, suspense, thriller and detective fiction. It refers to a crime, usually a murder, for which there are a limited number...

Are you looking for a story idea for a thriller? Maybe you’ve got an amazing character you want to star in your novel, but you’re not sure exactly what they’ll get up to. Or you...

The Queen of Crime, Val McDermid has sold over 17 million books to date across the globe and is translated into more than 40 languages. She is perhaps best known for the scintillating crime stories...

If anyone knows how to write a bestseller, it’s Paula Hawkins. The Sunday Times and New York Times No.1 bestselling author of Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning, her debut novel The Girl...

Ruth Ware is the New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Turn of the Key. Ruth is a British writer who started...

The bestselling author of The Girl in the Red Coat, Kate Hamer explores the story starter of fairy tales. Fairy tales are filled with potential to inspire all kinds of new and intriguing stories...