So you want to write that mystery?

Awesome! I love when people own their creative dreams. But it’s not as simple as just sitting down and waiting for the muse to strike with her fairy wand full of creativity.

Instead, we’ve gotta do some things to set ourselves up for success.

I’ve been writing mysteries for the past two decades, and one thing I learned is the importance of understanding exactly what kind of book you’re writing BEFORE you get started.

On today’s episode of the Get Writing Podcast, I’m talking about the major decisions you need to make before you start writing your mystery.

You might have an idea for a mystery. Or you just know you want to write one and that’s enough to get you started. And this episode is going to help you make the big decisions that will get you writing your masterpiece.

This episode will help you:

• Set yourself up for success before you write a word

• Nail down exactly what kind of story you want to write, so you can understand reader expectations

• Get clear on where and when your book should take place

• Understand who your characters are and which one should be telling the story

And so much more.

If you want to get clear about what you’re writing so you can sit at your desk with confidence, you don’t want to miss this episode.

And I’ve got a FREE guide to go along with this episode that walks you through each of the decisions - grab it below.

Resources:

The Five Key Decisions You Need to Get Started Writing Your Mystery - grab it here!

Get on the waitlist for The Mindful Mystery Writer’s Masterclass - opening soon!

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes

How do you actually set yourself up for writing success?

I don’t mean the nuts and bolts of learning how to write or practicing your craft. Yes, that’s important—but that’s not everything.

I’m talking about the mental prep work you have to do to get your mindset, your confidence and your motivation high enough to write.

There’s a lot of inner work we need to do to lay the groundwork for success and perseverance, no matter what’s going on externally. And then there are the external systems that keep us on track.

I put up an Instagram post a while back about systems and why writers need them and you told me that it was a topic you wanted to hear more about. So here we go!

I’ve become a systems queen. I don’t know how it happened, because I’ve always struggled with process and project management. But between working full time and writing multiple books a year FOR YEARS, I finally needed to figure out a better way. Which meant I needed a system to get myself writing every day, or most days at least, make enough progress to feel good about myself, and make writing a priority in my life - even if it wasn’t the thing I could spend the most amount of time on.

In this episode, I’m talking about what it means to create systems that will get you writing and keep you writing so you can fulfill the creative promises you made to yourself.

I’m covering:

• Why it’s so important to understand yourself and your own brain

• What I learned over the years about me that impacted the way I wrote—and even the outcomes

• The systems I have in place to ensure ease and productivity in my writing

• How to create systems that work for you so you can get to your best writing life

If you’ve been struggling with getting your writing started and keeping it on track, this episode will change your whole approach.

I can’t wait to see what you create!

Resources:

Episode 2: How to project manage your writing with Christine Carron

Episode 33: The most important tool in a writer’s toolbox

Monday Hour One - Brooke Castillo

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

Friends, I’ve got a treat for you this week! If you love Halloween and coffee as much as I do, get excited for this episode.

I have fellow cozy author Emmeline Duncan joining me on the show today. Emmeline’s books are so much fun. She’s the author of the Ground Rules Mysteries about barista Sage Caplin and her coffee cart in Portland, Oregon. She’s also the author of a new series about a year- round Halloween-themed town in Oregon. The first book, Chaos At The Lazy Bones Bookshop is out this summer and it’s delightful.

Emmeline is a girl after my own heart—clearly, she’s obsessed with coffee and Halloween—and also animals and books, so as you can imagine we have a lot to talk about.

We cover:

• Our joint obsession with coffee and how it turned into a series for her

• The northwest vibe and how it plays well into mystery writing

• How there really is a Halloween-themed town in Oregon, and how she used that as a

basis for her new series

• Her journey from writing YA to becoming a mystery author

• How to create a cozy setting in a big city

And so much more.

You can find out more about Emmeline at https://emmelineduncan.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!