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Mystery: December 02, 2015 Issue [#7349]

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Mystery


 This week: The long and short of it
  Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon
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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

Quote for the week: At least half the mystery novels published violate the law that the solution, once revealed, must seem to be inevitable.
~Raymond Chandler


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Letter from the editor

Have you ever had a great idea for a story that didn't seem to work when you wrote it? Maybe the problem is with the length. You might be trying to squeeze a novel into a short story or stretch a short story into a novel.

Getting the length and format right are especially important when writing mysteries. Besides keeping the story interesting, a mystery writer also needs to plant clues in a way that gives the reader has a chance to figure them out without making it too easy. A really complex mystery might be confusing and rushed as a short story, while a simple one might not have enough "meat" for a novel.

A short story usually centers around one main plot and has fewer characters than a novel. While there is no set number of major characters that is "too many", just include the most essential ones. If you are writing for a contest that has a word limit, make every word count. You may need to start in the middle of a scene and imply backstory rather than explain it. Concentrate on action and dialogue rather than long narrative description. I've read a few short mystery stories where the author wastes tons of words on setting and character description and then just "tells" the reader the solution because they ran out of words.

A book length story may have several subplots, and you have a chance to develop the characters. In a really good mystery, all subplots will relate to the main plot. I've read some mysteries that had a good main plot, but the subplots were just filler or fluff. These mysteries would have been much better as short stories minus the unnecessary subplots. Some authors believe they are adding depth to the characters when they throw in totally unrelated scenes between the investigator and his family or friends. For me, those scenes are just annoying filler unless they also contribute to the main plot. Maybe a situation involving the detective's parents, spouse, or children might give him some insight into the case. No matter how much you love a scene or a character, if they don't contribute to the main plot, take them out or save them for another story.

Something to try: If you have a short mystery story that doesn't seem to work as written, try expanding it into a novel. Or if you have a novel that doesn't work, pull out the main plot, and write it as a short story.



Editor's Picks

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Minkah's First Case Open in new Window. (13+)
A Mystery Tale set in Ancient Egypt.
#808822 by Fictiøn Ðiva the Wørd Weava Author IconMail Icon


Size Matters Open in new Window. (18+)
A 'comic noir' piece with technology and innuendo.
#1414980 by Ben Langhinrichs Author IconMail Icon


The Finder Open in new Window. (13+)
Roger has a gift he must use, but hates to. When a girl goes missing, he is called.
#2000962 by Sailor661 Author IconMail Icon


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Hugh Dunnit Open in new Window. (13+)
A Hugh Dunnit Mystery on another planet
#2057591 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


Dead End Open in new Window. (ASR)
The investigator for defense has amorous hopes concerning the pretty defendant.
#504839 by Joy Author IconMail Icon

 
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