Unraveling the Mystery of Mysteries, by Chantelle Aimee Osman
“A first class mystery is also a first class novel.” ~P.D.James
There are three main elements to a mystery:
- Plot – This is more important in a mystery. Know at least the key points before starting: who/what/where/why? Always start 20 pages after where you THINK it should begin!
- Make sure you have some subplots – romance, etc. Of course, the crime is most important – and it’s not always murder.
- Introduce the crime within the first 3 chapters. Make it believable – do your research. The methods used need to be rational and scientific, and the method of murder should match the killer.
- Clues should be almost invisible. The best ones point in one way but actually say something different if you look at it the right way. You really only need 1-3 really important clues. It’s more the plot and characters.
- You may have heard that “False clues and red herrings are not fair” – baloney! Life’s not fair. Don’t go too far afield with your clues, though – keep them realistic to your world.
- Also -remember that everyone has a secret, so everyone might be guilty.
- Characters – introduce the protagonist and antagonist early. The reader should have some sort of emotional attachment – either like them or hate them.
- Look up the FBI Profile Worksheet and fill it out for your characters – then leave most of that off the page!
- Make sure you actually like your characters!
- Your sleuth should be as unique as possible.
- Backstory should be like bread crumbs – drop a trail instead of dumping everything in the first book.
- Explaining motivation is bad, too – show us action or dialogue.
- Setting – This is often what draws people to the book. Treat setting as another character – don’t adjust it to just to have a place to set the story. Use things and places readers aren’t likely to see, but be accurate.
Also remember: anything that is going to make you jump or jar you out of the story is bad – it’s like bad narration in a movie.
5 Traits of a Highly Successful Writer (William Lavender)
- Confidence in your ability.
- Passion about your work.
- Have a willingness to change.
- Don’t give up when you fail.
- Continue your education.
Like, Love and Lust (Alison Sky Richards):
Reasons someone might not attempt a relationship:
- fearful of losing a friend
- fearful that their feelings won’t be reciprocated
- in another relationship
- uncertain of their own sexual orientation
In a good relationship, the other person completes them in some way:
- Yin and Yang
- Opposites attract
- Similarities
The break-up point is when trust has been broken; the other must re-earn that trust to repair the relationship
“Falling in Love”
- Star-crossed lovers
- Unrequited love
- Love triangles
- Marriage of convenience
- High school sweethearts who meet years later
- Summer flings
- Rich Girl/Poor Boy
- Outcasts
- Instinctual (werewolves, vamps, etc)
- Florence Nightingale
- Finding love when no longer looking for it
When someone is in love:
- they exaggerate their partner’s characteristics (rose-colored glasses)
- they see them as holding important values
- they feel happier/ more hopeful
- they love themselves more
- they feel more attractive and desirable
- they maintain the idealization of “falling in love,” but have a clearer understanding of friends in love
- they make commitments they normally wouldn’t make
- they may not be as jealous of partners (if the relationship is healthy)
- they feel less lonely and isolated
- partners in a healthy relationship learn to tolerate being separated and learn to tolerate intimacy and vulnerability
Barriers that keep a relationship from progressing:
- a checklist of “must-haves”
- wants sex only
- wants love only
- too high an expectation of partner
- fear of change
- putting something else above the relationship
The Joy of Writing Sex (Elizabeth Benedict) – 10 Principles:
- A sex scene is not an instruction manual.
- A good sex scene doesn’t have to be about good sex.
- It’s OK to be aroused by your own writing.
- Your fear is your best friend.
- Sex is nice, but character is your destiny.
- Only your characters know for sure what terms they’ll use.
- Take your cues from your characters.
- Make sure the emotions leading into sex make sense.
- A good sex scene is always about sex and something else.
- Who the characters are to one another is key.