Mystery: February 15, 2023 Issue [#11809] |
This week: The Mystery of Mysteries! Edited by: Lilli 🧿 ☕ More Newsletters By This Editor
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Have you ever started writing a mystery short story and had it fall flat on you? Maybe you get halfway through and have no clue how you're going to end the story.
Well, you're not alone because I have been there myself.
I hope these suggestions will help you, as they have me! |
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We want to keep our readers interested and engaged until the end. The problem is despite creating good characters, having a great setting, and knowing who our villain is, the plot is in limbo. Here are some suggestions for pulling the plot together:
Think Backwards
I know, I know - not everyone is a planner. But, if you're stuck, give this a try. Think about the ending and how the story will end. Write down what happens just before the ending; then what happens right before that. Do this for about eight to ten steps backward. What you learn may just surprise you. This exercise may reveal a hidden element of the character’s behavior and maybe even rethink who the villain is.
Read Out Loud
This has been suggested to me and I've seen it suggested to others more times than I can remember. Reading your story aloud to yourself has many benefits. It can help you catch errors; in spelling and grammar. This can also help you visualize the story and spot holes - just like when you are retelling an event to a friend.
Character Problems
If you feel like the story is stalling, maybe it's because you're having trouble connecting to the character(s). Take a break and write up some backstory for the character. None of it needs to become part of the story, but this exercise can help bring the character to life for you. Maybe the character has an interesting hobby or a nasty temper that may not show up in the story. Regardless, a character benefits from a back story and will help your writing, too.
Play With Titles
Jot down several different titles - all very different on slips of paper. Throw them in a cup and pick out one at random. Type it as the title of your story on the computer. Take a few minutes to think about the title and let your imagination run with it. Then discard it. Do the same for two more you pick at random. After you've done that, leave the story title space blank and use the title as a tagline or description. The plot just might begin to surface with a clarity that wasn’t there before!
Mystery stories are a great escape for many and readers love trying to figure out what's going on. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the process.
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| | Top Secret (E) A detective sets up in business. Third place in No Dialogue Contest. #2198184 by Beholden |
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