Mystery: August 13, 2014 Issue [#6484]
<< August 6, 2014Mystery Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueAugust 20, 2014 >>

Newsletter Header
Mystery


 This week: "I confess! I did it!"
  Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

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

Quote for the week:
"It is not the criminal things that are hardest to confess, but the ridiculous and shameful."
~Jean-Jacques Rousseau


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Letter from the editor

Occasionally, the guilty party walks in to the police station, and says, "I confess! I did it!" While every real life detective wishes for this kind of ending to an investigation, it would make for a boring mystery story!

However, every now and then, someone who is perfectly innocent walks in to the police station and says, "I confess! I did it!" Why would anyone want to confess to a crime they did not commit? Here are a few reasons:

He really believes he did it.
Maybe he was drunk or drugged and someone planted the murder weapon on him. If he hated the victim or had argued with him, he might believe he did it. He might also be feeling guilty because he wished the victim was dead.

Protecting someone else.
The guilty person might be a loved one, such as a spouse or child. You could complicate the story even further if the loved one is actually innocent, but the person who made the false confession believes they are guilty.

Paid or forced to confess.
If the false confessor is a gang member or part of a crime family, he might be forced to take the blame for a leader or superior. Maybe the guilty party has a lengthy police record, while the person making the false confession had never been in trouble with the law or is a juvenile. The guilty party might have promised lots of money for his family or maybe threatened to harm them if he did not take the blame.

Attention
Some people are so desperate for attention, that they will get it any way they can. Maybe he actually admires the killer, and wishes he had committed the crime.

Police often keep some details of a crime out of the news, so they can use them to determine if anyone who gives evidence or confesses is telling the truth. False confessions are a nightmare for police in real life, but they can add interesting twists to a mystery story. If a character in your story gives a false confession, be sure they have a good reason. The reason for the false confession could even be a major part of the mystery.

Something to try: Write a mystery where a false confession is a major part of the plot.





Editor's Picks

Image Protector
STATIC
One Long Day in Chicago Open in new Window. (18+)
Private Detective Lou Ryan, 1930s Chicago.
#1998004 by Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥ Author IconMail Icon


 
Image Protector
STATIC
Bait and Switch Open in new Window. (13+)
Can they pull off the crime?
#273727 by Fictiøn Ðiva the Wørd Weava Author IconMail Icon


Image Protector
STATIC
Remembrance Open in new Window. (13+)
"I don’t think we need secrets now, Grandma" - A Journey Through Genres Entry (Mystery)
#1996979 by 🌕 HuntersMoon Author IconMail Icon


 Sam I Am - Chapter 1 Open in new Window. (13+)
(Read Prelude first) Sam discovers not all is what it seems. Who is she?
#1987858 by Shawlyn Author IconMail Icon


 NURSERY RHYMES Open in new Window. (13+)
A detective cracks a case thanks to a parrot
#521973 by Joy Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1983858 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1314272 by Not Available.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

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!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B083RZJVJ8
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Ask & Answer

Question for next time: Have you ever written a story where you liked the villain more than the protagonist?

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B01MQP5740
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


<< August 6, 2014Mystery Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueAugust 20, 2014 >>

This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright.