News



Mom's Story Event


The program at the Microsoft Store was fabulous. In addition to my videotaped interview, the Vice President, Programs & Services of the Arizona Chapter for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society attended, providing useful information about the Society and its services. Everyone who attended received a complimentary teeshirt from Microsoft. The video will be available on YouTube soon.




Bits and Pieces







Front Page Listing


I am featured on the "Front Page" of the AuthorAdvance website..http://www.authoradvance.com




Writeoncon

Have you registered for the Writeoncon online conference yet? I did (it's free). I uploaded my picture book this morning in the critique forum and already have received 2 critiques and the conference hasn't started yet! Go to http://writeoncon.com to register...


FOUR CLUES TO WRITING A MYSTERY

When I wrote my first mystery, I had no idea how to do it. I actually had characters tell my detective riddles that would lead him to the next thing he needed to discover. To be honest, I had no clue how to construct a clue.

But after you write a few of these things, you start to see how the mystery is made. Herewith, are four helpful hints on writing a mystery:

1. Play fair with the reader

Mystery readers hope that you'll surprise them, but that surprise must be a fair one. You can't tease readers with three suspects throughout your story, and then suddenly reveal that a character they've never met is responsible. That's not playing fair.

Many mystery readers try to figure things out as they go along. To play fair with these people, you need to plant a clue or two that points toward your real culprit. Make it subtle, a throwaway line perhaps, but make sure it's there.

2. Keep your reader's age in mind

Obviously, the mystery in a Cam Jansen chapter book is going to be just a tad simpler than that in a Raymond Chandler tale. You want to keep your reader guessing, but you don't want things to be so convoluted that he or she gets completely lost - - especially in a
children's book.

Your story should be just a little trickier than readers think they can handle. If you have any doubts, ask a reader in your target age range to take a look at the story. If your story leaves her completely clueless, it's time to simplify.

3. Merrily misdirect

One of the keys to successful mystery writing is misdirection. Your readers should suspect every possible culprit but the real one.

How do you do this? Make your clues point strongly toward one character, then show that he's innocent. Make your suspects take actions that can have two interpretations, and let the reader and detective erroneously assume the worst.

4. Write from the ending

Most mystery writers I talk with say that they figure out the ending first - - what's the crime, who's the culprit, why'd they do it? - - before plotting the rest of the book. Once you've got that sorted out, it's a matter of concealing it.

You'll want your detective to take a circuitous route, often running into brick walls. You'll want her to think she's got it all solved, only to have the rug pulled out from under her.

Mysteries are all about the progressive unraveling of the unknown. But it's the *way* you unravel it - - using misdirection, considering your reader, and playing fair - - that makes for a satisfying read.



From Bruce Hale's THE INSIDE STORY July 2010

www.brucehalewritingtips.com