Irene Bell explores how you can find inspiration from Agatha Christie, the world's bestselling author.

Agatha Christie is the world’s bestselling author of all time; her book sales are surpassed only by the Bible and Shakespeare’s works. Christie’s oeuvre is iconic, with multiple radio plays, theatre plays, TV and movie adaptations being made; her characters – namely Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple – are two of the most beloved characters in popular literature. There is a lot we can learn from Christie’s work, whether we’re setting out to write mystery novels or not.

Many of her techniques are ones that get stressed so often in creative writing classes they have now just become white noise: keep notebooks (Christie had 76!), write what you know (many of her characters were based on her real-life friends). Without spoiling any of the legendary whodunits, because they are a joy to read, here are two notable aspects of her work that we could all learn from.

Her simple language

The key to Christie’s success during her lifetime was the accessibility of her writing. Creating interesting plots and engaging characters is one thing but ensuring that any person, from whichever walk of life, can pick up your book, understand it and feel as though it was written just for them – that is another kettle of fish.

Writing simply is a skill. It can feel easier to hide behind flourishes – though they are welcome when used sparingly – but writing in striking, simple sentences shows mastery of language. Through her novels, Christie illustrates how simplicity of language can be used as a plot device. Her sentences are sparse, they get to the point quickly, they tell you everything you need to know – all the facts are there. But this is a trick. In reality, through the ease of her language, Christie lulls you into false hope that you are clever enough to untangle the knotty mystery. More often than not, the ending of an Agatha Christie novel is simultaneously the most frustrating and entertaining part of the reading experience. It’s exposed that all the facts were in front of you but your little grey cells couldn’t make them fit.

Christie uses simple language both to engage readers and tease them. She hides nothing and everything, making you believe that if you just paid more attention, you could guess. You could be a detective, too. And yet, mostly you finish by closing the book, shaking your fist at the sky and crying out ‘next time Agatha!’ The reveal of the simplicity of the plot is addictive, it incites a desire to read on – maybe next time you’ll get it. Reading Christie never feels like a daunting task and can be enjoyed by everyone; in a profession so rampant with ego, this a joyful thing that must be preserved.

Her professionalism

There is no doubt that writing is art and self-expression; but it is important to view it as a job if you want it to be so. Christie knew that in order to have the means and opportunity to continue writing she would have to appeal to readers. Christie’s stories were always in demand, at times not in the way she would have liked.

Christie famously hated Poirot. Her grandson explained that she had wanted to ‘exorcise herself of him’. On the one hand, it is a tragedy to feel held hostage by one’s creation, to feel as though your most-beloved character is stifling your creative drive. On the other, her stoic ability to, through her resentment, uphold a level class and great writing when churning out more Poirot novels is formidable. Her publishers and the public demanded more – people’s paychecks, in a way, depending on the arrogant Belgian detective outsmarting everyone. So, Christie wrote on.

In the end, of course, she just killed him off and was done with it. However, it is important to note that the last Poirot novel is a favourite of many. She was graceful enough to give him a farewell worthy of her readers.

Her professionalism also extended to her ability to multitask; Christie was always working on more than one novel. She is a wonderful exemplar of just doing the work.

In her autobiography, Christie wrote ‘There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.’ There is much to be learned from Christie’s career. Her writing style found perfect harmony with her outlook on her career, fashioning her into the bestselling author of all time. Not powered by ego, Christie’s stories have withstood the test of time. A great difficulty of trying to make it as a writer today is the need to market both your work and yourself. However, the sheer amount of books Christie sold – and continues to sell – is a great reminder that finding the work ethic is truly the most important thing.

There is another thing she said that sticks with me: ‘advice is always certain to be ignored, but that’s no reason not to give it’. So, at the risk of getting up on a high horse with Christie, where I do not belong, I will say this: Be more like Agatha Christie; write simply, take the work seriously, allow every person who picks up your book to feel included in the story.