NonFiction for Writers
Calling All Sleuths! Love red herrings, hidden identities, and secrets? Want to indulge your armchair detective instincts?
Check out The Trope Thesaurus: Mystery & Thriller by USA Today Bestselling authors Jennifer Hilt and Sara Rosett.
Join us as we unlock the storytelling DNA behind forty-plus tropes that power the most gripping tales of suspense.
From domestic thrillers to serial killer hunts, femme fatales to police procedurals, and spy sagas to cozy whodunits, we reveal how each subgenre uses familiar frameworks to keep readers guessing—and gasping.
Packed with examples from books, series, and movies, this guide goes beyond surface patterns to explore how goal, motivation, and conflict intersect with tropes and genre expectations.
Whether you’re crafting your next twisty thriller, historical mystery, or private detective tale, The Trope Thesaurus: Mystery & Thriller will help you transform tropes into tools—showing relationships in action, heightening suspense, and keeping your readers up long past midnight.
Want to write a cozy mystery but don’t know how to get started?
Do you want to know the basic building blocks of a cozy mystery? Do you wonder why cozy readers devour these mysteries voraciously? Are you fuzzy on how the structure of a cozy mystery fits into the classic plot structure? Do you wonder what the “rules” are for a cozy mystery? Do you wonder where you can bend the rules?
Let USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett show you how she’s planned and written over 20 mysteries.
While each book is unique, every novel is built on a framework that is as old as storytelling itself. Cozy mysteries are no different. Discover the underlying structure that keeps cozy readers coming back for more.
Learn how to outline a cozy and start writing with Rosett’s easy-to-follow course today!
Struggling to structure your book series?
Learn how to make a series work for you: increase reader engagement and take advantage of the built-in marketing potential a series gives you.
Are you unsure which series structure is best for you? Or are you several books into a series, but you’re stuck? Do you want to expand your literary universe but aren’t sure how to do it? Perhaps you have a series languishing in your backlist, and you need ideas on how to market it.
Get the knowledge you need to make smart decisions about your series with How to Write a Series.
You’ll learn:
- The three basic types of series
- The benefits and drawbacks of writing each type of series
- Tips for extending your series beyond your original plan
- Ideas for creating spinoffs and expanding your literary universe
- How to know when it’s time to end a series
- How to save time writing your series and how to keep track of details
- How to deal with the problems that result from being locked into a story world
- How to refresh your interest in a series if you’ve grown bored
- Creative ways to market your series
I’ve been writing for fifteen years as both a hybrid and independent author. I’ve published over twenty-five fiction books in four different series. Everything I’ve learned about writing a series has been through trial and error. I hope my lessons-learned will give you a shortcut when it comes to writing your series, plus tips for troubleshooting problems, and ideas for promoting your series.
Unlock the power of a series in your author career with How To Write a Series.
Now out in audiobook! Read by the author.
Wish I’d Known Then: a Podcast for Writers
Two authors. One big question: What do you wish you’d known? Jami Albright and Sara Rosett dig into the craft and business of writing with fellow authors who share the lessons they learned the hard way — so you don’t have to.
Whether you’re drafting your first book or launching your twentieth, grab a cup of coffee and join the conversation.
New episodes each week!
Due to the fast-changing nature of publishing, The Efficient Writer is currently not for sale, but you can still get the downloadable templates!
- Daily Schedule Planner
- Word Count Spreadsheet Template
- Proofreading Checklist Template
- Book Production Checklist
- Book Details Template
- Book Description Maker Template
You are free to modify the templates for you own use.
Recommendations for Writers: Resources
