 Mystery: November 29, 2006 Issue [#1409] |
  Mystery
This week: Edited by: darkin
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Welcome to the Mystery Newsletter. Why are mysteries so popular? Because mysteries make you think. You follow every clue, examine the crime scenes and remember what each suspect said, until you solve the crime. A good mystery can keep you interested until the end. A great mystery will keep you guessing until the last page...when it makes you slap your forehead in surprise!
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The Seven Basic Mystery Plots
There are a wide variety of mystery novels these days. Seems everything is possible when reading, or writing, one. But I've found if you break them down to their basic plot, you'll find many of them are very similar.
If you asked 100 writers how many basic plots there are, you'd probably get close to 100 different answers. The idea of what a plot is varies from writer to writer, reader to reader.
These are my pick for the basic mystery plots. While I might have missed a few, these are the categories I've found most popular among the mystery novels I read. From main plot to subplot, those mysteries can or may include several of them.
1. Revelation: What is the truth, or what is the reality?
2. Encounter: The interaction and its consequences.
3. Chase: Attainment of the object or the chase.
4. Introspection: The ramifications of various choices.
5. Puzzle: Analysis of information to come up with a solution.
6. Retribution: Vengeance and punishment.
7. Transformation: Alteration and its results.
Plotting with Questions
Think of your plot as a series of questions that receive an answer. You guide the reader along by inserting a question in regards to the situation. Now, you may not give an answer immediately, but by the end of the story, you must resolve all issues in order to satisfy your mystery reader.
This can be classed into a three-part process.
Part A: The hidden story.
For this question period you will rely on Whodunit. Of course Howdunit, and Whydunit will join you in providing enough of a base to form the heart of the hidden story. Make sure that by the end of your story you have revealed all the pertinent details of the hidden story.
Part B: Your characters’ goals.
To say that your detective will solve the crime is a given, your reader expects this, and has no doubt that you will deliver. But what they don’t know is how your detective got pulled into the picture. Not saying that you have to make your detective struggle to reach his or her goals, but it can make for an interesting story.
Question to ask yourself when assessing your characters goals.
What is the detective’s principal goal or desire?
Why is the goal important?
What will be the consequences of success or failure?
What is the detective willing to risk to achieve the goal?
Who or what gets in the way?
We may need to know, or want to know what your detective hopes to achieve by taking on this case. Does your detective slay his demons of fear, loss, and betrayal by taking this case, and solving it? Most detectives have a stake in the outcome of the events, whether it is positive or negative. Will the result be what the detective expects to happen? Sometimes the stakes grow as the story progresses. The detective has more to gain, and even more to lose, as the story’s tension increases with each risk taken towards him or her achieving their goal. Any addition of challenge or obstacles will add to the plot. You can produce conflict with the introduction of another characters goal. This plays well with the fears, and failings of the detective’s own desires, which could affect his or her goals.
Part C: What is the Primary Question?
Although you may lead the reader to believe the crime is the main purpose for your character in the story, you will find there is an underlying question. Something the character, and quite possibly the writer are not even aware of at the beginning of the story. This reverts back to the life beyond the detective, and could be a current situation, or a past situation, that the detective is dealing with, while also dealing with the case at hand. This as well could have a direct link to your hidden story.
As a rule, you will make decisions about your plot as you write it. Does this character, this scene, or even this event have an impact on the story itself? Does it aid the reader, or distract them? A simple question answered will determine if it belongs in the story. If you find that it does nothing for the story other than give you more empty words in a pointless circle send it to the trash. You have more important details to include, which will intensify your plot. A plot is a chain of events that are linked together by a variety of actions, and array of consequences.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin
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