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There is an unspoken agreement between every cozy mystery author and her readers. Nobody signs it, but every cozy lover knows exactly what it says and can feel it the moment something goes wrong. In this episode, the Tech Guy and I break down all six clauses of the cozy contract, from justice served at every ending to beloved characters kept safe, from the setting that must always feel like home to the formula that is not a limitation but the whole point. Where did these rules come from? Agatha Christie had something to say about that. Settle in, Darlings. It's time to get legal.

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Five more bookish hills. One major disagreement. And The Tech Guy is confident he's going to win this one.

In this reader-focused follow-up to our fan-favorite Bookish Hills episode, I'm sharing five more hot takes that readers feel very strongly about, and this time, The Tech Guy actually knew what was coming.

We cover whether you should ever read a review before finishing a book, the case for always starting a series at book one, why taking a genre break might be exactly what your reading life needs, and why rereading a book you love is never time wasted. Then we get to Hill Five...

Drop your take in the comments.

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Every book I've ever written started the same way: one word at a time.

In this episode of Reality Writes, I walk you through my complete writing process. From the very beginning, when I was working another job with a kindergartner at home and 250 words a day felt like a genuine stretch, all the way to where I am now, writing 3,000 words a day across multiple series and genres.

Here's how the word count progression actually went:

• Year one: 250 words a day, five days a week: pre-agent, pre-book deal, figuring it all out
• Years two to three: 500 words a day: the first signs of muscle memory kicking in
• Year four: 1,000 words a day: first book contracts signed, two series, two publishing houses
• Years five to twelve: 2,000 words a day: publishing four to five books a year
• Year thirteen to now: 3,000 words a day: multiple genres, multiple series, one very necessary cup of coffee

We also talk about what happens after the first draft. Everything from the editing passes, the developmental work, the page proofs, I will never love, and where research fits into the schedule, including why a research trip is always work even when it involves a beautiful coastline and a very good grocery store.

And at the end, I make the case for reading as the single most important professional habit a writer can have, even when it feels like leisure.

Whether you're a reader who's always wondered what goes into the books you love, or a writer building your own process from scratch, this episode is for you.

Mystery Series Masterclass — https://courses.elliealexander.co

Ellie Alexander's website — https://www.elliealexander.co

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave us a comment. What part of the writing process surprised you most?

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