  Mystery
This week: Beyond the chalk outline Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
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All that I see or seem is but a dream within a dream.
Edgar Alan Poe
A mystery is an answer in search of a question; knowing what's been done and journey to discovering the how and why of it. It deals with something unknown to the reader, which the writer reveals in bits and pieces with both subtle and overt clues, drawing the reader into the puzzle. Welcome to this week's edition of the WDC Mystery Newletter, where we enter and explore the puzzle for ourselves and our readers.all that I see or seem is but a dream within a dream |
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Consider the main characters in a mystery story or verse - the sleuth, the perpetrator, and the victim(s). As mystery writers, we usually focus on the lives and viewpoints of our sleuth and perp, but sometimes we pay less attention to our victim. The victim is not mere chalk outline or shadow. Yes, there are the drive-by or collateral damage incidents, but there are victims with lives cut short or otherwise interrupted. The details of those lives provide clues to solving the puzzle, adding depth and believability to the mystery, and providing reason for the sleuth and perp to engage in the mystery. Without a victim, there would be no mystery. The victim is the character around whom the mystery revolves. Consider the following when introducing and developing your victim:
 Provide an in depth description of how the victim looked in life as well as at the crime scene. Show not the chalk outline but what's inside and surrounding it. Was the victim found in the river, floating or weighted down? Was the victim supposed to be in the warehouse? an employee? a trespasser? See where I'm going here?
Offer information about the victim - like we did in ancillary characters, explore your victim's background, age, education, profession, interests, and yes, relationships with potential perpetrators and/or the sleuth.
Give the victim a backstory to reveal his or per passions, desires, values and aspirations. Now, remember to show the backstory, revealing and misdirecting with clues and herrings. Was the victim saint or sinner?
Introduce family or friends who are impacted by the victim's death or loss. Perhaps one of them will provide a means to solve the mystery.
What lead to the murder or crime? Did the victim perhaps stumble upon something, or was he/she involved in something nefarious that got out of control? Was the victim armed? robbed? not robbed? More clues here to add depth to the mystery and involve the sleuth, and your readers. Was he or she victim by design or happenstance?
Spending a little time with your victim will keep him/her from being just another chalk outline or sidebar to the mystery. Giving us a character for whom the sleuth and your readers either empathize or despise will keep your readers turning the pages to learn the why of the mystery. Discovering the why will make your readers want to solve the puzzle.
Now, check out some of the puzzles woven by members of our Community and see how well you understand ~ or mis-understand, as the writer may incite ~ the victim.
Write On
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading
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In prose and verse the victim reveals his/her story ~ share your thoughts with the writers with a comment or review
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Now, how about this challenge to induce the muse creative to weave a puzzle with sleuth, perpetrator, and a victim to bring them together?
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I challenge you to write a scene or a poem to show why the victim is 'victimized' ~ be it as a silenced chalk outline or suddenly bereft of possessions. Whether new or already developing, send along the bitem link and you may see it here in a month or so.
Until we next meet, happy sleuthing as we each
Write On
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading
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Mystery: May 04, 2011 Issue [#4368]
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