So let’s say you have a series of books, movies, TV episodes, TV seasons, etc. Any given series of storytelling. Doesn’t have to be linear in time. Doesn’t even have to be about the same characters (a la romances about a number of sisters, etc.) With or without an overarching plot. Could just be “monster […]
The Secret of Writing a Series Read More »
Okay, the frame as a narrative device. Most writers have at least heard of it. There’s a story within a story. But let’s look at this from a mystery perspective: A crime happens or is discovered (in the case of a long-past crime). The main action of illustrating the crime happens on another level, for
Simple Mystery Plots, Part 7: The Frame Read More »
I was reading a P.D. James novel and realized I hadn’t added this most basic plot of all. It honestly feels more like a technique than a plot. A crime happens. The solver either mentally or literally lists the suspects, their motives, their methods, and their opportunities to commit the crime, as if on one
Simple Mystery Plots Part 6: The Grid Read More »
I found another one! (Two, actually; another one tomorrow.) The mystery revolves around the fact that there are multiple versions of the truth (or conjectures of the truth), which are structured as separate chapters/sections of the book. A crime occurs. Various people try to solve the crime, or are called upon to give their version
Simple Mystery Plots, Part 5: The Real Story Read More »
I’ve been struggling with this one, which seems stupid. I mean, isn’t this something that all writers should just know? There was a reason you wrote the book in the first place, wasn’t there? And yet: I regularly go through phases of, “Everything I write is terrible.” Therefore, why would anyone want to read the
Copywriting Technique: What Do Readers Want When They Want Your Book Read More »
So atmosphere is weather, and even background sounds. But what do you do for atmosphere if you’re indoors? Well, first, you can make the scene atmospheric by adding fog. No reason not to add fog to any setting, indoors or out. Or you can make it dark, so that most of the details are obscured and
Atmosphere Part 3: Atmosphere Is Also Posters Read More »
So the other day I joked about how atmosphere is literally just the weather (mostly fog). But there’s more to it than that. There’s also background noise.* Go back to your list of atmospheric movies and/or novels, and pull up a scene/page from one of the items on the list. The first movie on my
Atmosphere Part 2: Okay, Also Atmosphere is Literally Just Background Noise Too Read More »
A thought experiment for you: Do a Google search for “atmospheric movies.” Check out how many of the movies had posters with some sort of fog, weather, smoke, or translucence in them. Of the ones that don’t, if you’ve seen the movie, ask yourself, “Is some element of the weather a factor in the story?”
Atmosphere Part 1: Atmosphere Is Literally Just Fog Read More »
I’m not sure I’m going to do this one justice, so I saved it for last (so far). I’m calling it The Big Twist. A crime occurs. By design or accident, the crime is completely misinterpreted. The solver(s) proceeds forward in good faith, as if it were one of the other types of simple mysteries or
Simple Mystery Plots, Part 4: The Big Twist Read More »
Another mystery plot. This one I like to call The Two Cases. Crime #1 occurs. Crime #2, a minor/funny crime, occurs. The solver tries to track down one of the two crimes, but it’s no good. They run into something from the one crime that reminds them of the other crime. Wait wait both these crimes
Simple Mystery Plots, Part 3: The Two Cases Read More »
