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Rose replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Thank you so much for that advice! I’ll look into those things, it helps a lot! I’m really excited to keep working on it! 🙂
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Brian Stansell replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Here’s just a little something I wrote which shows some misdirection:
Rathburn did not know what he was in for. We had found strategic positions and lay in wait for him. There was not a lot of cover, so we had to find safe positions behind the austerely furnished room. Getting access had taken months of planning. Rathburn often worked late nights…[Read more]
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Brian Stansell replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
I am very glad to have helped. Your insights have helped me many times, so I am pleased to return the favor.
Another thing I would mention is to layer misdirection or false trails within the story. Sometimes these are called “red herrings” in the writer’s guides.
Have several characters have reasonable motives for wanting to off the victims. …[Read more] -
Rose replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Does this help?
A whole lot! Thank you so much, Brian! That’s exactly the kind of overview I needed!
I already know who the murderer is and I have a faint idea of their motivation, but this will really help me work it out! Thank you so much!
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Brian Stansell replied to the topic What Else Can I Do? ~ Short Story in the forum Contemporary Fiction Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Kimmi,
That is amazing and heart-wrenching. Very evocative and poignant. Great job!
Some pain can only be mitigated by being present and connected.
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. [Romans 12:15 NLT]
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Brian Stansell replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Hi Rose,
I have been wanted to respond all day, but it has been so busy at work.
I agree with Joelle. You have to reverse-plot a mystery. Determine what will happen and be revealed at the end and then work backwards.
You need to determine the main motivation for your villain. What would drive them to commit a homicide.
There are the usual r…[Read more]
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Joelle Stone replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Sure thing, Rose!! (Hehe, ’tis pretty accurate. :P)
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Rose replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Thanks Joelle! I’ll absolutely go check it out! I have a lot of research to do XD
Also, I love your quote XD
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Joelle Stone replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Mm, good question, Rose! The only advice I can offer is to check out Abbie Emmons and Kingdom Pen and Story Embers and all their advice on mysteries. If you’re trying to plot, try reverse plotting (yes yes, I know you’ve heard me rant about it before XD) or going for a three-act story structure – or check out the SE resource library!! You never…[Read more]
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Joelle Stone joined the group Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
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Rose started the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
Greetings writerly companions!
As you could cleverly deduce from the title, I’m looking for advice on the basics of the noble craft of the whodunnit.
Out of the blue, I had a concept for a mystery novel, which may or may not be induced by my recently heightened consumption of Agatha Christie novels.
The problem is that I am very much the…[Read more]
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Rose joined the group Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 1 month ago
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Cathy replied to the topic What Else Can I Do? ~ Short Story in the forum Contemporary Fiction Writers 4 years, 2 months ago
That…yeah.
That was painfully beautiful ❤️💔❤️🩹
heheh…
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Kimmi started the topic What Else Can I Do? in the forum Contemporary Fiction Writers 4 years, 2 months ago
I lean against the door post, looking through the cracked door at my little sister. Sitting on her bed, squeezing a penguin to her chest. I stand there, my heart pounding. I don’t want to be the one to tell her. I don’t want to be the one who finally crashes her world in two.
I swallow hard and make my leaden legs step forward. The white door swi…[Read more]
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Timepiece joined the group Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 2 months ago
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Valkyrie Falk joined the group Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 3 months ago
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katie02 joined the group Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers 4 years, 4 months ago
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Grace Benham joined the group Contemporary Fiction Writers 4 years, 4 months ago
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Cathy replied to the topic Newsletter Help in the forum Publishing and Marketing Nerds 4 years, 4 months ago
Hiii! *bowls over with hug*
1) I use ConverterKit but I mean I haven’t actually even sent my first newsletter out yet so…so far I’ve like it, I can’t get any automations with the free version but I’m used to jimmying stuff and I’m sure I can burn that bridge when I get there XD. I was able to design my own landing page and import free royalties p…[Read more] -
Cathy joined the group Publishing and Marketing Nerds 4 years, 4 months ago
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