This year Scene of the Crime brought us Barbara Fradkin, author of the Michael Green Detective novels. Barbara led the morning workshop at writers festival on Wolfe Island in Kingston Ontario.
Fradkin talked about the difference between cosy mysteries and hard-boiled mystery.
If you’re writing a cosy, she suggested:
- no swearing
- limited violence – could be off screen
- sex mostly off screen
- set in a tight community, village or club
- write in a genteel pace
But if you’re on the other end of the spectrum you can write whatever you like.
I think my writing falls somewhere in the middle. What about you?
Thanks for reading . . .
Creative Story Editors 
Any gifted writer who uses gutter language is lazy.
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It was a most interesting day, the presentation about Kingston Mills Crime scene was heartbreaking , but well presented. Looking forward to net year.
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Me too. This is the second time I’ve gone and enjoyed both days.
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I’d say there’s a spectrum and not just 2 categories, as there is in real life. To use a television analogy, it ranges from Murder She Wrote (family friendly) to Sherlock and Murdoch Mysteries (references to sensitive topics) to the CSI franchises (very violent).
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Jan, And that’s what makes writing so difficult. There is never one answer or one rule to follow. Could be the reason writing is an art 🙂
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