Learn about crime, mystery and thriller editing

Use this library of multimedia resources to learn about how to edit crime fiction, mystery or thrillers, whether you're an author or a writer.
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Articles about crime and thriller editing

Scroll down to see what's available in this section.

Learn how to line edit fiction for sense and sensibility

Editing Fiction at Sentence Level

Fiction is about flow, rhythm, mood, voice and style. But mostly it’s about story. When writers self-edit at line level with confidence, story is elevated by the sentence, rather than buried beneath it.

Editing Fiction at Sentence Level shows you how to hone your line craft so that the narrative and dialogue compel readers to turn the page.

Dig into specific aspects of fiction writing

These fiction guides help editors and writers dig deep into specific aspects of line craft. I'll show you how to hone your stylistic skills so that the prose pops off the page.

Authors and editors discuss crime and thriller fiction

Listen to these episodes to learn more about crime, mystery and thriller writing and editing.

Courses to hone your crime, mystery and thriller craft

Start Crime Fiction Editing

Learn about the genre, the stylistic tools that support it, common problems, and the pithy edits that can transform a manuscript from mundane to magic. You’ll also get actionable advice on how to edit synopses, query letters and blurbs, and how to get your business organized and visible. Visit the course page.

How to Line Edit for Suspense

Learn how to identify suspense in a novel and evaluate its effectiveness. Then use the trifecta to edit for improved reader experience and communicate your revisions with confidence. Visit the course page.

Narrative (Psychic) Distance

This course teaches professional fiction editors and commercial fiction authors how to recognize and control narrative (psychic) distance. The result? Seamless viewpoint transitions that deepen a reader's engagement with the novel's characters. Visit the course page.

How to Edit Slurs in Dialogue

​This self-paced course teaches editors about six adaptable tools that can be used when line editing dialogue containing discriminatory language.​ Visit the course page.

How to Punctuate Dialogue

This self-paced short course teaches editors, proofreaders and writers how to punctuate dialogue in a novel according to publishing-industry conventions. The learning includes a suite of downloadable practice questions and model answers so that you can test what you’ve learned. Visit the How to Punctuate Dialogue course page.

Free dialogue webinar for fiction editors and writers

I join the team at Keystroke Medium, The Writer's Journey, and talk about the goals of dialogue in a scene, how to use it to keep story pace on track, how to create unique character voices, and using punctuation, tags, actions beats effectively.

Click the play button to watch right here!

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Find your national editorial society

There are national and regional editorial societies all over the globe! To find one that fits your journey, and discover what it has to offer in terms of resources, community and training, click on the button below.