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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2065
Mystery: November 14, 2007 Issue [#2065]

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Mystery


 This week:
  Edited by: darkin
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

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!


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

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Mystery Subplots


Planning a mystery story seems easy enough to most writers. Decide who the killer, victim and detective are. Give the killer a purpose to commit his crime and the victim a reason to be killed. Piece of cake, right?

Wrong.

A mystery with only one plot line would be a pretty boring tale. Mystery stories should be multi-faceted, with one major and several minor plotlines to keep the reader interested and wanting to know more. Subplots add texture to a mystery tale. They can come from many locations in your story. Here are a few of those places you can find your subplots.


Back story
Each character in your novel should have some kind of back story, even if it is only a very minor one. These are great places to find a subplot for your mystery. Maybe your detective was arrested as a child for suspicion of murder. Or your villain has a secret love of kitties. You can use back story to reveal secrets, beliefs, and desires to make your story more suspenseful or even humorous. The back story can be used to build or relieve tension.

Secondary characters
These characters are wonderful subplot vehicles. Sometimes a character comes into a tale that surprises the writer with how good they are, adding much needed subplot material. Often times the writer needs to find the character who will do this. Once you decide on which characters will be associated with the subplot, be sure you flesh that character out enough to make it work.

Objects
Mystery stories have many different aspects to them. One of these is objects. One idea for an object subplot is the detective finding something that belongs to the killer, or victim, that changes the course of the investigation. There are many different kinds of things that can spark a subplot.


Theme
The last subplot we'll discuss is the theme related one. This one requires the writer to know what the theme of their story is. Sometimes the theme is known in advance, other times it is discovered during the writing. An example of theme subplot is the murder mystery about a killing done to keep the victim from telling the killer's secrets. The secret can be a subplot, distracting the killer, and detective, in their quest to be the victor.

Subplots can work both for and against a mystery writer. Done correctly, they will add depth and texture to a mystery story. Done incorrectly, they will take away from the writer’s plot. Plan your subplots well and you will find your readers begging for more.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!

darkin


Editor's Picks

Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!

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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Don't forget to support our sponsor!

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Ask & Answer

Thank you for allowing me into your e-mail boxes for this week's issue. I had a wonderful time writing this issue and would love to hear what you think about it. Here is some feedback I received from my last newsletter.

darkin

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Submitted By: Tehanu Author Icon
Submitted Comment:

Hey Squirrel - thanks for deeply defining "catalyist" and also for all those awesome links!

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