 Mystery: April 06, 2022 Issue [#11298] |
This week: To plan or not to plan Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: "The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery."
Francis Bacon |
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When you write a mystery story, do you know how it will end in advance or do you discover the ending as you write?
Some writers plan every detail before they even start to write, while others might start writing with only a vague idea of what is coming. Neither method is better than the other, but there are some advantages to each one.
I am one of those writers who plan every detail before writing a single word. I think planning the story is the fun part of writing, and it helps to avoid plot holes. I make a list of characters, their backgrounds and relationships, and possible motives of all suspects. The planning process also involves research into any settings or story elements that aren't familiar to me. I don't want to start writing a story only to discover that some important point wouldn't be possible or realistic.
Some writers begin writing with only a vague idea of a situation or character. They flesh out the characters and story line as they write. They may not know the identity of the killer or guilty party until they reach the final stages of writing. Writers who use this method say they like to be surprised in the same way their readers will be surprised. One of my favorite writers says she doesn't need to do much research because she only writes about situations and settings that she knows. Not having a rigid plan allows the writer's imagine to run wild and possibly think of better story possibilities.
Planning a story doesn't mean you can't make changes as you write the story. Sometimes a character demands to go in a different direction no matter what the writer has planned for them. I don't even begin writing until the events of the story have been edited at least five times in my head, and I still make lots of changes later.
Something to try: If you struggle with the writing process, try changing the amount of planning you do. If you normally make a rigid plan, try being a little more spontaneous. If you normally write by the seat of your pants, try doing a little more planning.
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