Taking the Mystery Out of Writing a Mystery
- Slides: 10
Taking the Mystery Out of Writing a Mystery Steps to Writing a Mystery Story
Story Skeleton Ø Fill out the story skeleton sheet ØSetting ØCharacter List ØConflict ØRising Action ØClimax ØResolution
Mystery Story Skeleton How to Plan Your Mystery Story
Choose the Setting for Your Story Ø Where will the story take place? Ø Will it be in the city where you live or somewhere else? Ø Writing about someplace you can picture is easier. Ø Use the five senses to help describe the setting. Ø When will the story take place? Ø Will your story take place in the present, past, or future? Ø Will your story take place all in one day or over a longer time?
Cast of Characters Ø Make a list of the people in your story. Ø The main character is most important. Ø Minor characters may help the main character, or they may prevent the main character from solving the mystery.
Conflict Ø WHODUNNIT? What is the mystery? What is the problem that your main character will have to solve? ØIs someone or something missing? ØDid someone steal something? ØWas there a murder?
Rising Action Ø Rising action is the steps between learning there is a mystery and finding the solution. Ø List these events in order, but stop right before the mystery is solved. Ø Develop suspense with clues. Ø Red herrings are clues that lead the reader to suspect the wrong person. Ø One clue must be the key to solving the crime.
Climax Ø This is the moment when the mystery is solved. Ø The climax is the solution to the mystery. Ø This is the moment you have been waiting for!
Resolution Ø This is the end of the story – the last paragraph or two. Ø The resolution ties up the loose ends. Ø Tell the reader any details the reader needs to know to understand how the mystery was solved. Ø It should be obvious that this is the end of the story. (Do not say “The End. ”)
Write Your First Sentence Ø Grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read the rest of the story. Ø Begin with action, and with something interesting happening at the beginning. Ø Starting with a conversation or someone talking is another way to make your story come to life right away.
