How to Write a COZY MYSTERY Series: Create SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

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  • Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
  • Want to write a cozy mystery series? Let's work on it together! This video series will take you through the whole process of beginning your cozy mystery series: choosing the hook, creating the sleuth and her world, and even starting the first book!
    Today we'll talk about how to design your sleuth's supporting cast. We'll talk about three good things (and one bad thing!) supporting characters can do for your sleuth, and we'll dig into what a sidekick can do for your story.
    I love writing cozy mysteries! Check them out here: smile.amazon.c...
    I developed my ideas about fiction try studying many resources, including these books: www.fictiontec...
    //////////////////// MORE IN THIS SERIES ////////////////////
    ✍️ How To Write a COZY MYSTERY Series | Part 1: Choose Your Hook -- • How To Write a COZY MY...
    ✍️ How To Write a COZY MYSTERY Series | Part 2: Generate PLOT Premises
    --- • How To Write a COZY MY...
    ✍️ How To Write a COZY MYSTERY Series | Part 3: Design Your SLEUTH
    --- • How To Write a COZY MY...
    //////////////////// LET'S CONNECT! ////////////////////
    🕸 My website: www.fictiontec...
    📘 My books: smile.amazon.c...
    🔔 Subscribe: / @janekalmes

Комментарии • 50

  • @janekalmes
    @janekalmes  4 года назад +3

    Watch this series from the beginning: ruclips.net/p/PL3KL6Jqx65DjZcAKroahZ3eP5mo-D2u1S

  • @MahlonBouldin
    @MahlonBouldin 2 года назад +4

    I’m a little late to the party here (it’s 2022!) but thank you for giving us this very well done series. Not only is your insight into the mechanics of mystery astute, I think the example characters and situations you come up with to illustrate your lessons are really excellent! You’re a natural teacher. I read the opening of your Black Rose Murders, and you’re a natural writer, too. So glad I stumbled across your chanel. Subscrubed and Liked!

  • @ghost_whispererx8810
    @ghost_whispererx8810 6 месяцев назад

    I recently decided I wanted to right Cozy mysteries. I write romance novels. thank you for you videos, I really appreciate them.

  • @SukieDanks
    @SukieDanks Месяц назад

    this has been an extremely helpful series. I might actually get my book started!

  • @Paul12345671
    @Paul12345671 Год назад

    My Vampire game has a very helpful feature. Each character comes with a list of "contacts" where he can get a wide variety of information and support.

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  Год назад +1

      Sounds great! Is this a computer game or a role playing game?

    • @Paul12345671
      @Paul12345671 Год назад

      @@janekalmes It's a role-playing game.

  • @annavernick1490
    @annavernick1490 3 года назад +2

    I'd totally read that book ! your imagination amazes me!

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  3 года назад +1

      Haha, after I finished this video I thought, “I wish I had time to write that book!”

  • @JonTanOsb
    @JonTanOsb Год назад

    I didn't realize I hadn't seen this one. I'll have to check out the series from the beginning. Thanks for the link.
    Funny, my cozy revolves around an actor and one of the supporting characters is the costume designer. His boyfriend is a mystery writer, so everyone thinks he can solve the murder. Oh, if only.
    Jon in rural BC, Canada

  • @JillMaurer
    @JillMaurer 3 года назад +3

    Really loving your videos. Especially this series.

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  3 года назад +2

      Thank you so much, Jill!

  • @anna_rn
    @anna_rn Год назад

    Thank you for sharing

  • @bingewatchingninja
    @bingewatchingninja Год назад

    Awesome series and very helpful 😊

  • @hideoussails1783
    @hideoussails1783 4 года назад +1

    Yay! another video!

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  4 года назад +1

      Aw, thank you so much!

  • @RusticatedArt
    @RusticatedArt 3 года назад +1

    Excellent Advice Jane and I love the way you put up subtitles!!👍😀💯

  • @farahamri2658
    @farahamri2658 3 года назад +2

    I'm guessing from this video, that my earlier question about whether I can use an amateur detective is . . . no 😅 amazing video, I learned a LOT 🤓

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  3 года назад +2

      I think you can... composing a longer reply to your first comment.

    • @farahamri2658
      @farahamri2658 3 года назад

      @@janekalmes 😂

  • @ryanhoffman3947
    @ryanhoffman3947 4 года назад +1

    In mine. Rileys big sister works at the police station as a secretary/dispatcher. His friend Connor is a bartender and also works at his unlces law firm as a paralegal. His girlfreind/love interest is cop.

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  4 года назад +1

      Awesome, Ryan, it sounds like you’re covering all the bases!

    • @ryanhoffman3947
      @ryanhoffman3947 4 года назад

      @@janekalmes I have it all figured for this series. After I get the first three books..I might do a second series with a female amatuer sleuth.

  • @doaa8242
    @doaa8242 3 года назад +2

    Thank you, very informative as usual :)

  • @faydreamsmystic4
    @faydreamsmystic4 2 года назад

    I'm having a great time with this series. I hope you keep it up.

  • @cecileinthegarden3147
    @cecileinthegarden3147 2 года назад

    Hi Jane ! Your videos are so inspiring. Thank you for all this :) I'm starting a new book and it's a great help.

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  2 года назад

      I’m so glad to hear that!

  • @patriciadanna7433
    @patriciadanna7433 2 года назад

    Thanks for this video; great information; like the way you order the videos by subject.

  • @heidimagnuson8243
    @heidimagnuson8243 7 месяцев назад

    Thank you for all the great info in your videos. So helpful! Regarding supporting characters, is it okay to have a ghost character that provides historical information to the sleuth but has no more backstory than any other supporting character? My sleuth discovers and meets this ghost as needed in an old farm building. In similar fashion, does a ghost character require that the story bring in other paranormal elements such as a related subplot? FYI: my ghost is a long dead relative that helps provide background to a newbie to town.

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  7 месяцев назад

      I’ve been pondering this. My initial instinct is to tell you, Yes! It’s your book! Your vision ultimately is what has to govern the thing, because you’re the one who has to write it and stand behind it.
      And yet. The ghost is, well, interesting! The book is your vision, but it’s also FOR the reader-and there’s a part of me that thinks that it won’t be served by taking elements that interest your reader and relegating them to the background.
      In short, I’m conflicted. I wish you a lot of luck as you figure this out . Perhaps it would help to run it past some beta readers?

    • @heidimagnuson8243
      @heidimagnuson8243 7 месяцев назад

      @@janekalmes That's pretty much where my mind is going, too. Since I'm new to writing mysteries, I've decided to start with something less complicated to prime the pump. I so appreciate your feedback!

  • @jesbrimer3096
    @jesbrimer3096 4 года назад

    I'm loving your videos!

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  4 года назад +1

      Thank you so much, Jes!

    • @jesbrimer3096
      @jesbrimer3096 4 года назад

      I written my first cozy last year and didnt like it. Currently I'm writing a new cozy. Your videos are showing me why I didn't like my 1st cozy and you're keeping me from making the same mistakes. I really appreciate your channel!

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  4 года назад +1

      I feel the same way about my first, unpublished cozy. Thanks so much for your kind words; they have made my day!

  • @ascott1470
    @ascott1470 2 года назад

    these videos are so insanely helpful! i’ve currently made my plot for my first book, no title ideas yet, but the sleuth is a girl who works at her parent’s bookstore and ends up finding a dead body of someone she knew, so she decides to figure it out. her love interest is going to be a police detective, but do you think that will be hard to pull off for a whole series? i’m a little worried about it seeming too easy for her to figure things out with the help of her detective boyfriend

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  2 года назад +1

      Definitely not too hard to pull off! Lots of cozy series have this kind of love interest. Remember that he doesn't have to help her willingly! If he doesn't believe she should be pursuing the case (which would be a very reasonable position for an officer to have), this could be a source of spicy conflict between them.

  • @jennierutowski323
    @jennierutowski323 2 года назад

    Hello! I am new to your videos but I have been watching all day. I have a question that reaches far...far into my future...how does ine find a publisher once youve decided youre satisfied with your fonal product?

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  2 года назад +1

      Hi, Jennie, welcome aboard! There are a lot of different things you can do to find a publisher, but the most common path is generally to (1) send query letters to literary agents and (2) let an agent approach publishers for you. There are a lot of amazing resources out there on this! best of luck with your book!

    • @jennierutowski323
      @jennierutowski323 2 года назад

      @@janekalmes Thank you!! I have wanted to write a book my entire life and never thought it would be possible until I started reading cozy mysteries. I knew at once these were the type stories I want to write and cannot begin to tell you how helpful your videos are for me. I am a creative person who is more often than not distracted by all of the possibilities a story may have and therefore get lost in a wealth of superfluous details; your videos are helping me get organized and more importantly FOCUSED!

    • @janekalmes
      @janekalmes  2 года назад

      I’m so glad to hear that! Cozies are magic for me, too.