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Rebecca Makkai once claimed that “setting is the most underutilized tool in fiction.” But mystery and crime writers might beg to differ—often using setting not just as backdrop, but as a driving force in plot and character development. In this generative class, we’ll explore how mystery writers leverage setting to build tension, deepen character, and propel narrative. Through writing exercises, you’ll learn techniques to make your own settings more integral to your storytelling, no matter your genre.
Susan Finch is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and a Professor of English at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Her writing has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Crab Orchard Review, New Ohio Review, The Greensboro Review, and other literary journals. She is the author of Dear Second Husband, a debut short story collection published by Carnegie Mellon University Press.
Headshot photo credit: Allen Clark
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