Mystery/Who Did It Novels

[Johnathan Colourfield]

Hi Guys

 

I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on writing a mystery/whodunnit. I've got this character running around in my head and she won't leave me alone.

 

How do you approach writing mysteries?

 

Is there anyone with specific experience on the website with this genre of writing who could provide a higher level of mentoring (aka some help with plotting, planning, how to approach structure etc.)

 

I think once I have the above I should be fine. Can anyone help or link me to stuff that could help?

[Cia]

I'm not experienced at this; typically I tend to telegraph what is going to happen in my stories. That is the biggest challenge in a mystery story; adding enough clues for the readers to actually understand what happens at the end, getting that 'AHA!' moment. And of course the red herring is essential plot device.

 

Hopefully another mentor or mentee can help you out. Good luck on your writing!

[Renee Stevens]

I always have a problem with doing "Who Done It" stories because I tend to give it away before the end... I'll see if I can do a bit of research to help you out! One thing that I will point out that I have found... If you plan to give clues and don't want the reader to completely have it figured out by the end, make sure that the "clues" lead to not ONLY the actual character who did it, but also casts suspicion on another character as well... You can even have your character who actually did it plant things to frame another character.

[Renee Stevens]

Here is a link that seems to have some pretty good advice:

 

http://thebusinessofwriting.wordpress.com/2010/04/21/how-to-write-a-mystery-novel-2/

[sat8997]

Libby Drew's Paying The Piper is a murder mystery. She seems very easy going so you could contact her to see if she's got any pointers for that particular genre.

 

Personally, I love mysteries and wish more authors would write them.

[TalonRider]

You probably could also contact C James. His current story, 'Circumnavigation' is a mystery

[Johnathan Colourfield]

Libby Drew's Paying The Piper is a murder mystery. She seems very easy going so you could contact her to see if she's got any pointers for that particular genre.

 

Personally, I love mysteries and wish more authors would write them.

 

I will contact Libby and C James then

 

Thanks very much guys

 

And I love the mystery genre, but i've never had the confidence to write one but i'm feeling a bit more ready to write on now

[comicfan]

Mystery novels are fun but big things to remember is where and when you are setting it. Agatha Christie and Sir Conan Doyle have rich detective stories with people from all walks of life. The thing that makes them so much fun is the way the story is written and the fact that at that time, DNA and crime labs didn't have all the tools they do now. Then it was sheer brain power. I can't say I've written a mystery although I have been involved in a writing group where we constantly were passing our chapters back and forth and one of my group kept his work solidly in the fifties for just that reason. It meant researching the music, clothing, cars, and crime techniques of that time period but the story was incredible.