 Mystery: November 15, 2017 Issue [#8605] |
  Mystery
This week: On Location Edited by: Jeff  
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"Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle; they read it to get to the end.
The first page sells that book, and the last page sells your next book."
-- Mickey Spillane
Trivia of the Week: Melinda Leigh went from banker to Wall Street Journal bestselling author after deciding that writing fiction was more fun than analyzing bank statements. In addition to publishing 20+ novels and novellas over the past three years, she's also a mom and teaches women's self-defense as a second-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate.
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ON LOCATION
Locations can often play a critical role in our storytelling. In some of the best stories, the location can almost be a character unto itself. The diverse worlds of the Star Wars galaxy help give those stories a sense of expansiveness and diversity. Similarly, the personality and attitudes of the small town of Dillon, Texas is as integral a part of Friday Night Lights as any of the characters. When Harry Met Sally wouldn't be the same story with the same nuance if it were set anywhere other than New York.
When it comes to mystery stories, certain types of locations are expected. Big cities are popular, often because they're diverse and gritty enough to provide ample opportunity for a variety of crimes that need solving. Small towns can also be popular, though, because there's something inherently engaging about following the local law enforcement around hoping they can resolve the bizarre and unusual crime that's taken place in their normally idyllic little slice of the world.
I’ve always admired stories that can surprise you with either an unusual location or a fresh take on an established one. Collateral was captivating in part because it showed the seediness of Los Angeles at night rather than it’s idyllic daytime views of palm trees and sunshine and beaches. Harry Potter was immersive because J.K. Rowling created an entire imaginary world parallel to ours, fleshed out with minute details all the way down to the bizarre types of candy the Hogwarts students enjoyed.
A lot of emphasis is placed on characters and plot... and rightfully so. But I’d also encourage you to spend some time thinking about and developing your locations. A well-chosen, well-articulated setting can do wonders for the themes and atmosphere and nuances of your story.
Until next time,
Jeff
If you're interested in checking out my work:
"Blogocentric Formulations"
"New & Noteworthy Things"
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EXCERPT: Jared woke in a nervous sweat breathing heavily. His eyes darted around his room seeing if there were any of the horrid creatures around him that seconds ago were tormenting him. He jumped out of bed and turned on the light. He looked at his digital clock; it was 4:17 am. He walked past his door and down the hall and into the living room and sat on the stuffed leather chair facing the sixty inch TV and turned it on. Jared kept flipping channels until he came to a lighthearted black and white comedy. He felt the tense grip on his mind relax and subside as he slouched into the seat. Jared took a deep breath.
EXCERPT: The waves crashed against the jagged rocky cliffs that sculpted the island of Dory’s Bay. Jack Johnson, the elderly lighthouse keeper, bore a large LED flashlight to guide the disoriented tourist in this unforgiving thunderstorm. The violent wind whipped at the old man’s dirted yellow raincoat, making him appear like a tattered signal flag to the man who hobbled up the muddy cliffside behind him.
Blinded by the icy rain, the lighthouse keeper reached out a shaking hand to locate the door of the only residential area on this side of the island besides the lighthouse. With his fingers grasped firmly on the bronze knob, the old man yanked the heavy wooden door back, flooding himself and his guest with yellow light from inside.
EXCERPT: “I killed him so that I could get my own reality show. It’s not that hard to understand.” The Cop looked as though I had told him that I had spotted an honest politician. “Can you take me in and have me arraigned already?”
EXCERPT: "Good morning, Maureen." Edgar greeted in a snide almost sneering fashion. "I hope you slept well" he continued. The man was almost giddy with oozing hatred for the woman to whom he spoke. Edgar a tall, thin and balding man was entering the family room as he spoke. Maureen was reclining in a chair next to the fireplace having her morning coffee.
EXCERPT: The night was warm i was coming out of starbucks for a late night coffee, it had been a long night i was working on a case that had been unsolved for 4 years i only had 7 hours left to solve the case i look down at my watch and sign it was over.
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Feedback from my last newsletter about unsolved mysteries ("Mystery Newsletter (October 18, 2017)" ):
DB Cooper  writes: "When will Russia open up the file on hero Raoul Wallenberg who saved 100k Jews in 1944 Hungary?"
That's a good question... I wish I had an answer!
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