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Tuesday
February 14, 2012
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  >> Book >> Mystery >> ID #694742  |   Show DetailsPrinter Friendly Page Tell A Friend
Mystery Writing Start to Finish
This journal contains informative articles and how-to's to write a mystery novel.
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Avg Rating: (16)
Merit Badge in Mystery
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 For excellency and dedication as Editor to the official Writing.Com Mystery Newsletter (February 2002 to June 2003).  The Writing.Com Staff, your fellow Editors and our community members thank you for your efforts, research and writing; you were an asset to our newsletter and we'll miss your issues. Thank you again! *^*Smile*^*

It is truly a Mystery to me. I cannot find the words to describe the thoughts and actions that represent what contains an average vs. an excellent Mystery. But like any writer, you strive for information to expand your knowledge. Being a Mystery Editor on the site for a year and half certainly had me doing a lot of research. Monthly I discovered the world of Mystery, and presented it newsletter format. Since resigning my editorial, I decided to create this journal as a reference for the site.

"Exactly how do you write a Mystery?"

Well I cannot guarantee that this journal contains all,
but it certainly will get you started.


What Do You Know About Mystery?
How often have you said to yourself, “I could never write a mystery. I don’t know anything about it.” Well, I for one am guilty as charged, however, what I am finding is that, I know a lot more about mystery, then I have given myself credit for. This makes me believe, that you could possibly be suffering from the same curse. And yes, I did say curse, after all what else could possibly be stopping you from sitting down, and hammering out page after page of good mystery.

Knowledge! That’s right lack of knowledge is a curse, for you never really know how much you have until you test yourself. What better way to test yourself than to give mystery writing a try. Now we all know, that to sit down and write a great novel takes time, patience, and motivation. Not to mention a good story plot, some bonus characters, and a fabulous setting. Then again, no one said you had to start at the top! Take your time and start with something simple, and work your way up to bigger and better stories. Anything is possible, and you might even surprise yourself.

Quick List for Mystery Writing
1) Every Story begins with an idea.
2) Your main character is the most important part of your story.
3) Choose minor characters that will be in your story.
4) The plot of any story is this: The main character has a problem, and must solve it by him or herself.
5) Make a list of clues that you can use in your story.
6) Think about “red herrings.”
7) Suspense is an important ingredient in a mystery story.
8) The setting should fit the mood of the story.
9) Look for the best place in which to begin your story.
10) Know how your story will end before you begin to write it.

When we think of Mystery, we believe that it falls into every avenue of writing. However the true mystery is a series of ‘who did it’, ‘how’d they do it’, and ‘why did they do it’. In general, the adult mystery will involve a murder, while the child mystery will involve an object. While most believe that a mystery is one of the easiest novels to write, they are sadly mistaken when they find out the amount of research that is required to write a true mystery story.


Did You Know?

Average Novel Length *Bullet* 150,000 words

Mystery Novel Length *Bullet* 65,000 words
There are 25 visible Entries. Viewing page 1 of 1 with 25 per page.
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#25. Test Your Mystery Knowledge
---->> ID #242922 entered on 05-25-03 @ 2:50 pm EDT

#24. What Is A Watson?
---->> ID #242921 entered on 05-25-03 @ 2:48 pm EDT

#23. Detective Notebook - Should You Have One
---->> ID #242920 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:30 pm EDT

#22. Mystery Self-Editing Check List
---->> ID #242919 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:29 pm EDT

#21. Today's Menu "Red Herring"
---->> ID #242918 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:45 pm EDT

#20. Researching Your Mystery Story
---->> ID #242917 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:27 pm EDT

#19. What Is Suspense?
---->> ID #242916 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:26 pm EDT

#18. Building Dramatic Scenes
---->> ID #242915 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:25 pm EDT

#17. Show Not Tell
---->> ID #242914 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:24 pm EDT

#16. Real vs. Imaginary Setting
---->> ID #242912 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:23 pm EDT

#15. Chain of Events
---->> ID #242911 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:21 pm EDT

#14. Structure in a Story Plot
---->> ID #242910 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:20 pm EDT

#13. Creating a Story Plot
---->> ID #242909 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:20 pm EDT

#12. Writing Series Characters
---->> ID #242908 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:18 pm EDT

#11. Character Behaviours
---->> ID #242907 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:17 pm EDT

#10. Creating Characters
---->> ID #242906 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:41 pm EDT

#9. Point of View in a Mystery
---->> ID #242905 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:15 pm EDT

#8. Defining Your Victim
---->> ID #242904 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:14 pm EDT

#7. Giving Your Detective Life
---->> ID #242903 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:13 pm EDT

#6. Who Will Be Your Detective?
---->> ID #242902 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:12 pm EDT

#5. Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
---->> ID #242901 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:11 pm EDT

#4. The Elements for Writing Mystery
---->> ID #242900 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:09 pm EDT

#3. The Many Faces of Mystery
---->> ID #242899 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:10 pm EDT

#2. Main Characters
---->> ID #242898 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:07 pm EDT

#1. Importance of Story Plot
---->> ID #242897 entered on 05-24-03 @ 6:06 pm EDT


There are 25 visible Entries. Viewing page 1 of 1 with 25 per page.
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© Copyright 2003 Wannabe (UN: gresyl at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Wannabe has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

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