Mystery stories are a special type of writing.Fast paced and complex, they are a problem solving person's idea of a great read.Good mysteries keep a reader wondering while solving the crime.Great mysteries keep a reader in the dark until the very end.Though you can have almost any combination of genre in one, there are certain rules you must follow for the tale to be considered a mystery.1.Plot - Mysteries are plot-driven tales.They go beyond the standard victim is killed - detective searches for clues - killer is caught plotlines.Good mysteries have all that.Great mysteries have twists, turns and enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the moment the killer is revealed.A mystery story's plot must be plausible or the story will fall flat on its covers.2.Crime - The crime should be introduced as early as possible, preferable in the firs chapter.Not many readers will be willing to read hundreds of pages without a victim.Most would not be willing to read past the first chapter.The crime should be believable, something the reader can see happening.3.Main Characters - Introduce your detective and villain early on.Your detective is the hero of the story and your reader wants to see him in action from the get go.Your villain can be shown early, but if you want to keep your reader guessing, then keep your villain in the shadows until his unmasking.4.Take your time - Keep your villain a secret until the last possible moment.If you show the reader who he is too soon, they might lose interest in the rest of the story.Be sure you reveal the clues as your detective uncovers them so your reader has a chance to solve the crime first.5.Research - Make sure you read up on the type of crime, police procedures, and forensic information to make your story come to life.Also, make sure you know your story's setting inside and out.Nothing ruins a story faster than a writer who doesn't understand their own setting and makes errors the reader can see.Mystery stories tend to follow more standard rules than other genres.Following those rules will help you write the kind of mystery your readers are looking for, and create the kind of suspenseful storyline that will have your readers turning the page until the very ending.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
5 Tips for Writing Mystery Stories
Mystery stories are a special type of writing.Fast paced and complex, they are a problem solving person's idea of a great read.Good mysteries keep a reader wondering while solving the crime.Great mysteries keep a reader in the dark until the very end.Though you can have almost any combination of genre in one, there are certain rules you must follow for the tale to be considered a mystery.1.Plot - Mysteries are plot-driven tales.They go beyond the standard victim is killed - detective searches for clues - killer is caught plotlines.Good mysteries have all that.Great mysteries have twists, turns and enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the moment the killer is revealed.A mystery story's plot must be plausible or the story will fall flat on its covers.2.Crime - The crime should be introduced as early as possible, preferable in the firs chapter.Not many readers will be willing to read hundreds of pages without a victim.Most would not be willing to read past the first chapter.The crime should be believable, something the reader can see happening.3.Main Characters - Introduce your detective and villain early on.Your detective is the hero of the story and your reader wants to see him in action from the get go.Your villain can be shown early, but if you want to keep your reader guessing, then keep your villain in the shadows until his unmasking.4.Take your time - Keep your villain a secret until the last possible moment.If you show the reader who he is too soon, they might lose interest in the rest of the story.Be sure you reveal the clues as your detective uncovers them so your reader has a chance to solve the crime first.5.Research - Make sure you read up on the type of crime, police procedures, and forensic information to make your story come to life.Also, make sure you know your story's setting inside and out.Nothing ruins a story faster than a writer who doesn't understand their own setting and makes errors the reader can see.Mystery stories tend to follow more standard rules than other genres.Following those rules will help you write the kind of mystery your readers are looking for, and create the kind of suspenseful storyline that will have your readers turning the page until the very ending.
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