Online Class: Mystery Writing

Mastering the Art of Mystery Writing

Dive into the suspenseful and thrilling world of mystery writing with this comprehensive course tailored for both budding and experienced authors. Whether you've always yearned to pen down a captivating mystery or you're an established writer wishing to venture into a new genre, our meticulously designed course will elevate your storytelling craft.

Why Mystery Writing?

Mystery novels have always held a significant position in literary history. In 2023, mystery and detective fiction represented a whopping 20% of book sales in the fiction category. Readers are inherently drawn to the allure of the unknown, the suspense of the narrative, and the intellectual challenge of solving the puzzle. Now, imagine being the architect of such a gripping tale!

Course Journey

1. The Mystery Genre
   Dive deep into the nuances that define this genre. Explore successful mystery narratives and the elements that make them tick.

2. Starting Out
   Every story starts with a spark. Identify your source of inspiration and lay down the foundation of your narrative.

3. Research
   Behind every compelling mystery is a trove of research. Discover techniques to make your story both captivating and believable.

4. Storytelling - Plot and Sub-Plot
   Craft a riveting central plot and complement it with intricate sub-plots that enrich your narrative.

5. Storytelling - Characters
   Construct multifaceted characters that readers root for. Learn the importance of motives, backstories, and development.

... [Continuing through Lessons 6-13 with similar detailed structure]

Exclusive Features

• Innovative Writing Exercises: These exercises are engineered to channel your creativity, challenging you to think outside the box and foster fresh ideas.

• Knowledge Checks: At the end of each lesson, reflect on your learnings with thought-provoking questions that solidify your understanding.

• Continuous Challenges: Irrespective of your age or experience, this course will persistently push your boundaries, ensuring your writing evolves with each lesson.

Key Takeaways

1. Deep Genre Understanding: Understand the backbone of mystery writing, from its historical roots to its modern-day evolution.

2. Craftsmanship: Equip yourself with a versatile toolkit to create compelling settings, characters, and plots that resonate with readers.

3. Sustained Motivation: Writing is as much about consistency as it is about inspiration. Learn techniques to stay motivated and overcome writer's block.

4. Revision Techniques: Master the art of redrafting and refining your narrative to perfection.

Who is this Course For?

For those with a novel idea but not sure where to start, we'll guide you from a blank page to a compelling mystery. And for the seasoned writer, we offer insights, techniques, and challenges to refine and expand your existing skill set.

Conclusion

The world is full of stories waiting to be told, and the realm of mystery holds some of the most intriguing tales. With the guidance of this course, you're not just learning to write a mystery; you're setting yourself on a path to captivate the minds and hearts of readers. Join us on this thrilling journey and leave an indelible mark in the world of mystery writing.

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Creative Writing Workshop

How to Write a Short Story

Romance Writing

Course Motivation

A mystery is a story in which something is hidden from one or more characters. Mystery and Detective fiction are interchangeable terms, with detective fiction referring more commonly to murder mysteries. The most popular Mystery or Detective story sold worldwide is arguably the 'whodunit' in which a crime, usually a murder, is committed and characters struggle to solve the mystery and gain some kind of recompense by punishing the perpetrator of the crime.

Thinking About Mystery

Answer the following questions to get you thinking about mystery and the implications the term holds for you personally:

1. What mysteries can you think of? Think about classic stories, modern novels, movies, television shows, and dramas. Make a note of all that you can think of.

2. What elements are common to all these mysteries? Think about:

a. What is the mystery? Is it a crime, a murder perhaps?

b. Who is trying to solve the mystery, and what are they like? Are they a professional or an amateur? Do they have a vested interest in solving it -- for example, money or revenge?

c. When is the crime or mystery brought to light, and when is it solved?

3. How predictable was the outcome of the stories? How did the predictability affect your enjoyment of the mystery? Was there anything you would have done differently?

Noting similarities between characters and stories is useful for two reasons:

1. As a writer, you need to know your genre so you can write for it or challenge its boundaries.

2. The second reason is to note trends in mysteries you encounter so you never duplicate typical storylines in a way that will make them predictable for your reader. Knowing what to expect means you know how to surprise your reader, and surprise is an important part of any mystery.

Challenging Your Genre

Knowing what makes a good mystery is a matter of reading. Reading mysteries and making your own notes on how and why they are effective is the best practice for writing your own mystery. In the modern mystery market, there is a huge demand for mysteries of all kinds, those that conform to the typical mystery protocol, and those that veer off the beaten track. Whichever of these options appeals to you, it is essential that you are familiar with the genre before you challenge it.

Challenging the genre can be done in a number of ways. Remember, if you remove the mystery elements, it won't be a mystery anymore, therefore the puzzle, crime, or murder has to remain. Elements you can play around with are those of character and narrative, perhaps challenging the stereotype of the "detective" or telling the story from an unusual viewpoint.

Sub-Genres

A sub-genre is a genre within a genre. Mysteries have a number of story "types" that you may wish to consider. These are often blended together and the edges are commonly blurred as mystery writers become increasingly reluctant to be bound by the conventions or rules of their particular sub-genre. Here a number of common sub-genres of the Mystery:

• 'Hard-Boiled" – These are usually noted for their gritty realism. They tend to have more graphic representations of violence and sex and are more likely to deal with disturbing or shocking crimes. These are tough stories that aren't necessarily for the faint-hearted.
   
• "Cozies" – These are almost always set in small towns or villages. They have a gentler, more genteel tone and the characters tend to be particularly likable. The crime that has to be solved in a cozy mystery is usually bloodless, or at least without graphic description.

• "Historical" – Obviously these are mysteries set in the past. These stories require a lot of research into the historical era they are set in, as while their readers are prepared to accept that the mystery may not have actually happened, the detail of the setting must be correct; anachronisms will seriously impair the quality of the writing and isolate the reader.
   
• "Private Eye" – These are simple detective mysteries where the solver of the mystery is a licensed private investigator. Often these mysteries are complex and rely on the amazing talent and insight of the sleuth to solve them.
   
• "Procedural" – Sometimes called "Police Procedural" mystery stories, these are mysteries that focus on the procedure and activity of the police who are solving the crime. These include details of investigations, police protocol etc. Similar to this is the forensic detective story.
   
• "Didactic" – Didactic is a way of describing mysteries that aim to inform or teach the reader about a particular arena, for example, a mystery that is set in a particular professional world.
   
• "Amateur" – Opposite in many ways to the "private eye" sub-genre, this type of mystery is solved by a character who is not from the detective or police field. Often the sleuth is another type of professional from a different field completely.