Check It Out:

If you are an aspiring writer and need some fresh ideas for working on your genre fiction, you’ll find help at the Newport Beach Public Library. Many categories of fiction are more popular than ever, including mystery, detective stories, science fiction and horror. The library stocks many books that are instructive in these and many other forms.

Mystery writing has really blossomed of late, with many authors finding niches in bookstores. If this is a field that interests you, you’ll find a number of books that give instruction in writing plausible, well-developed mystery stories.

“How to Write a Damn Good Mystery” by James N. Frey is a book that aims above the bar. The author compels you to write dramatic fiction and gives advice on creating realistic, believable characters.

“How to Write a Mystery” by Larry Beinhart demonstrates how to be exciting and how to keep readers guessing, and also gives advice in marketing.

“Writing the Mystery” by Miki Hayden shares interviews with notable authors such as Elmore Leonard and gives useful advice in developing atmosphere and pacing.

“How to Write and Market Your Mystery Novel” by Jean Hager is a useful book that takes the reader through the many stages of development, editing and marketing.

Detective/suspense fiction is also very popular.

“Murder One” by Mauro V. Corvasce and Joseph R. Paglino aims to give writers the nuts and bolts of the genre, including the psychology of killers, graphic murder scene descriptions and various, often-twisted character motivations.

“Private Eyes” by Hal Blythe, Charlie Sweet and Lohn Landreth is a similar book by the same publishing house that gives insight into the lives and procedures of private investigators and their relationships with courts and police investigators.

Science fiction and fantasy are two genres that have gained in popularity.

“The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference“ by Daniel A. Clark and Sherrilyn Kenyon instructs writers on adding believability to the unreal, such as the description of ancient rituals, the study of cultures and the depiction of mythical races and monsters.

“Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Sourcebook” by David Borcherding is an all-in-one writer’s guide and marketing tool. The author demonstrates craft, imagination and adaptability for many lengths of fiction.

“World-Building” by Stephen L. Gillett lends sense and credibility to science fiction, gives a feeling of plausibility to invented laws of nature and helps writers to develop a realistic world operating on the imagination.

Horror is another genre of fiction that has become much more popular of late.

“Writing Horror,” edited by Mort Castle, combines the advice of such notable authors as Harlan Ellison, David Morrell and Joyce Carol Oates.

The authors dish out advice on developing realistic dialogue, interesting and compelling characters, and most of all, the art of the scare.

“How to Write Horror Fiction” by William F. Nolan gives ideas for creating well-developed plots, using your own life experiences as inspiration, creating effective monsters and building suspense.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org . For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.