Ten Tips For Writing Mysteries

TEN TIPS FOR WRITING MYSTERIES Camille Minichino OVERVIEW Mystery novels remain one of the most popular categories of fiction. The spectrum of crime fiction published today is broad, spanning titles from the coziest whodunits, where the lady who runs the crafts store solves all the town's murders, to the most graphic thrillers, where the lives of millions are at stake. Each subgenre has different conventions, but there are characteristics that apply to all: a strong and appealing protagonist, a compelling story with red herrings and interesting twists, and a satisfying conclusion. Here are ten tips to help you write a polished, dynamic page-turner, no matter what the subgenre. TIP ONE: FIND YOUR NICHE The best reason for choosing to write a mystery is that you love to read them. Take a minute to analyze your mystery reading habits. Do you prefer hardedged or soft boiled? Gritty or cozy? Graphic or "fade to black?" A professional detective or an amateur who gets caught up in solving a crime? Being able to pinpoint the subgenre is critical in selling your book to an agent or publisher. TIP TWO: NAIL DOWN THE TROPES Read extensively in your subgenre. Note what works and what doesn't. Pay attention to details like chapter length and number of characters. How early in the book does the murder take place? When is each new character introduced? Is profanity acceptable? Yes, there's a formula. Like the architect who must start with the basic structure of floors and ceilings, it's up to the writer to add the elements that make his book unique. TIP THREE: BUILD THE CHARACTER ARC Whether your sleuth is an amateur or a professional, give him an arc of personal growth that is apart from, but runs parallel to, solving the crime. Maybe he's afraid of heights but in order to find the last clue he has to climb to a rooftop. Maybe she thinks ill of a secondary character, but finds out in the course of the investigation that she's misjudged him and has thus learned something about herself. TIP FOUR: MOTIVATE YOUR SLEUTH Especially if your detective is not a professional, there must be a compelling reason for him to want to solve the crime. But even if your sleuth is a homicide detective or a PI, it's a good idea to add a personal motive for her passion to bring the killer to justice. Is the victim related to a friend? Is there backstory that makes this case important? Will this case help resolve a personal issue? TIP FIVE: BEAT THE READER OVER THE HEAD Be aware that although you introduced Johnny in Chapter Three, the reader might have gone to Tahiti and back since she picked up your book. Provide a tag line nearly every time you mention Johnny. Remind the reader who he is and what he's like through action or description. Maybe his baldhead picks up light from the lamp; maybe he's wearing the tie with the gravy stain in the middle of the flock of seagulls. TIP SIX: DELETE SMALL TALK Make your dialogue count. Never use throwaway words like "Well, …" or information-free phrases like "How are you?" Instead, use "Do you still suffer from …?" or "When's your surgery?" Give each character a distinctive phrase or manner of speaking, without going overboard. U