This week: Inspiration for mystery Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: "If you don't turn your life into a story, you just become part of someone else's story."
~Terry Pratchett |
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The hardest part of writing a mystery story (or any story) is coming up with an idea. It is challenging to come up with something that doesn't sound like something you have already read, or written. At times, it may seem as if all the good stories have already been written, but that is not true. Thousands of great stories have yet to be written, or even imagined.
Every mystery starts with a puzzle. A crime has been committed, someone or something has disappeared, or any event happens that cannot be easily explained.
Your best inspiration for mystery stories might be what you see every day. If your home town is like mine, you might think, "But nothing exciting or mysterious ever happens here."
Even places that seem ordinary or boring can be full of mystery. People everywhere have secrets. Places where life "seems" predictable are often the best settings for mysteries, because anything out of place will be noticed.
Sometimes the first sign of a mystery might be a small, unexplained event. Instead of finding a body, your character might find a shoe, a scarf, or a wallet. Characters might realize that small items of little value are missing from their homes. Maybe a restaurant, library, or store that is usually open at a certain time is closed without explanation. A normally happy or friendly person might seem angry or sad for no apparent reason. Maybe the police are called about an accident or disturbance, but when they arrive, they find nothing.
Even large, busy cities can be broken down into neighborhoods or communities that are familiar to those who live and work there. Characters who live in New York City or London might not know the entire city, but might be very familiar with the neighborhood where they live, the place where they work or attend school, the park where they walk or play, or their place of worship. If something is out of place or doesn't seem right in these areas, the people who are familiar with them will notice.
Something to try: Write a mystery story that starts with a small thing out of place. |
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The small town has trouble with gangs, until a saviour comes to assist.
#2231310 by Sumojo  |
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| Question for next time: What subjects would you like to see in future mystery newsletters? |
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Mystery: February 09, 2022 Issue [#11204]
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