This week: In Plain Sight Edited by: Carol St.Ann  
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| The Mystery is an intricate entity, easily done in by the smallest detail. Let’s investigate how it works, shall we? And while we’re at it, let’s compare battle scars and have a laugh or two at one another’s expense. |
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In Plain Sight
(The invisible red herring)
Have you ever reached the conclusion to a mystery and been stunned when you realized the answer was in plain sight the entire time?
I have. But the example I’ve chosen to bring forth in this newsletter isn’t a book, it’s a short story put to film.
Wait a minute, Carol. This is a newsletter for writers and you’re addressing a movie.
Yes, I am. But every movie is first a script concocted and developed in someone’s head as a short story. In this case, I’m referencing The Sixth Sense, on the presumption that most of you have seen the film, I won’t belabor the plot, but aim my focus solely at craft.
The key to it’s success is the main character’s ignorance - and thus the audience’s ignorance - that the primary mystery even existed. The MC didn’t see it even though moments of confusion were plainly visible and obvious, and since he shrugged them off, I did too.
I let out a nervous laugh when that ring went rolling across the floor and the final piece in the puzzle was both revealed and solved. And all those moments, watching the story unfold and thinking the director must have been a film school dropout embarrassed me a little, because like it or not, I’d been masterfully manipulated and utterly fooled. This thrilled me to no end. I’m not shy about admitting I watched the movie a second time just to see (and delight in experiencing) the things I ignored the first time around.
Not only was I utterly misdirected by the author, but by the very structure and framework of the story. My attention was diverted from the ultimate mystery at every turn. As a matter of craft, this is a highly developed, brilliant strategy.
Right here in the WDC, you can find wonderfully crafted and woven stories of equal brilliance. "In Dreams" a quick 900 word short by Max Griffin 🏳️🌈 is one such story.
In the portfolio of our resident king of the macabre, Angus, you’ll find dozens of examples of such masterful craftsmanship.
The most important part of a mystery is, of course, structure. Every character must be crafted with care and precision. Developing the mood and swagger create dimension. And when you’ve got that built, consider, as these two master storytellers have, making the story itself the invisible red herring.
I heartily recommend the director’s commentary on the Sixth Sense, and "Inside or Outside" to anyone who’d like to know more on how both stories were painstakingly designed, developed, structured, and crafted.
Until next time, thank you for your time and happy writing!
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| What was the very best mystery story experience you ever had, and why? |
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Mystery: April 20, 2022 Issue [#11322]
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