Are you a fan of Agatha Christie novels? Would you like to write to the caliber of the Miss Fisher series? Writing a mystery requires a specific set of tools; you must be well organized, understand character arcs, know how to utilize your settings, and know how to create a well-developed plot. 

For those of us that may have issues plotting our mystery, creating believable characters, or struggle with bringing our settings to life, a poorly thought-out plan can discourage us, stifling our creativity. A list of tools and resources can certainly help maintain a sense of confidence when embarking on the mystery writing journey.

Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron
Reading this book is like going to a class with the author as your teacher. Beginning with characters and motive, the author leads you through each layer as you build your mystery novel. Complete with worksheets, other mystery novel breakdowns, and a special section on getting your mystery noticed by agents and publishers, this is my favorite mystery writing how-to book.

Writing A Cozy Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen
For those that are interested in learning how to write a cozy mystery, this book is an excellent addition to their shelf. Broken down into steps, with end-of-the-chapter exercises, this book too is like taking a writing class. The author has taken excerpts from her own books to help guide the reader to a better understanding of how writing a cozy compares to other types of mystery sub-genres. 

Writing A Novel Using The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
You may have heard of the Snowflake Method of writing. This book is perfect for those that are interested in using the Snowflake Method but don't want to invest in the software or for those that would like a clearer vision on how to layer their novel. Although not for mystery writers specifically, the Snowflake Method is quite popular among novelists of all genres. The Snowflake Method is also an excellent resource for those that enjoy spreadsheets and deep plotting, for the new writer, or for those that prefer spending less time in the editing phase.  

OneStopForWriters.com
What started as a few thesauri has turned into a vast writing resource. While the site's main attraction remains their many writers' thesauri, their list of tools and resources is astounding. With positive/negative traits thesauri, the emotional wound thesaurus, and a texture thesaurus (to name a few), this site is chock-full of helpful information and tools. The website also offers timeline sheets, plotting tools of all sorts, character creation help, and anything else one may need when writing a novel. 

HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com
Created by a novelist, this website's articles alone are a treasure trove of writerly wisdom. With help on creating realistic and relatable characters to advise on how to plot your novel, this site is a necessary resource to the new writer.  

In conclusion, there are many resources available to the mystery writer - we just have to know where to look. Keep your readers in mind when planning and plotting your novel and do some research on writing a mystery. Before you know it, you will be typing your next great whodunit.