How to Write a Mystery Party

A well-written mystery party must have interesting characters.

Writing a mystery is the first step to hosting a mystery party. In order to write a good one, you must develop the plot well. When developing the plot, keep in mind the age of the party guests. If an idea is difficult to come by, read a few short story mysteries or watch how certain mystery movies or television shows play out.

Things You'll Need

• Note cards
• Posterboard
• Markers

Instructions

Plot Development

1. Consider the area where the party is to be held before writing a setting for the story. If the party is to be held in a home, for instance, a dining room can be turned into a fancy restaurant or a living room can be emptied and turned into a ballroom. Other setting ideas are haunted mansions, upscale resorts and pirate coves.

2. Create an event that would bring a group of people together. Ideas include a prom, a will reading, the welcoming of a new neighbor, an award ceremony, an engagement party or a movie opening.

3. Develop appropriate characters for the setting and event. Keep in mind the characters will be matched with party guests, so individual scripts will need to be written on note cards for them to memorize. Characters should be realistic and need to have secrets that could possibly be a motive to the crime.

4. Take the setting, event, and characters and craft the crime--commonly murder or theft. Be sure to answer questions concerning the crime when writing. Take posterboard and markers and create a chart to visualize the pieces of the crime to make sure they are sensible.

5. Incorporate clues into the tale. Clues on a body may include a love note, a torn picture or some lipstick. Hard evidence includes objects left behind at the scene or fingerprints. Write who may have seen a suspect leaving or overheard an argument or scheme. Indicate who had opportunity to commit a crime and where a murder weapon or stolen item is found.

6. Generate a resolution. Reveal secrets, portray innocence and guilt and encourage guests to put the pieces of the mystery together to find the answer.

Tips & Warnings

• When writing, always keep in mind other things needed for the party. Don’t write about a theme that can’t be created in the the location or an event for which props are hard to come by. Write the mystery so it can be solved in the time allotted for the party. If necessary, seek tips from local law enforcement officials who are familiar with solving crimes.

References

• Theatrefolk: Write Your Own Murder Mystery
• Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute: Plot, Character and Setting: A Study of Mystery and Detective Fiction