How to Write a Mystery Novel

Video Transcript

"Hi, this is Laura Turner and today we're going to talk about how to write a Mystery Novel. The mystery genre is a very popular genre because people can read, or you know if it's a film, watch but we're writing a novel so, people can read and actually really get into the story and actually put clues together as they go through the story. So it's almost as though a mystery novel is including the reader more than most other novels. So first of all, keeping that in mind plot is the most important aspect of the mystery novel. You really have to make sure you have all the details of your plot down as you're writing, or before you're writing even if you work that way. First of all, know what the answer to the mystery is. Know yourself, where you're going and then, that's my suggestion for structuring this. And then sort of plot your way to that goal so that you don't have too much extraneous stuff. Next, add plot twists and tangents that will confuse the reader and make them think the answer lies somewhere else other than where you've actually placed it. We've all watched, you know, sort of Scooby-Doo cartoons where the kids go on a wild goose chase for one person and they actually find out in the end that it was somebody who was there all along, that they didn't even look for. So think about adding your twists and turns into your plot to keep the various (Unknown) or the reader off the beaten path. Next, provide as many answers as possible to that question that you posed. That mystery, that murder. The film Clue, and the board game Clue is a very good example of this that you have many different possibilities for the same end. So that's a good way to actually you know, make those twists work. Next, construct a compelling hero who we actually want to solve the mystery because there's really no point if we don't have for example Sherlock Holmes that we're going to look to and say, you know will he solve the mystery. I really want him to because he always does. You know and he's a compelling hero, one that is charismatic. And finally, thing about your AHA moment at the end. Make sure that all of your clues and all of the things that you put together. All of your tangents have a purpose and do lead up to that end because without that you're not going to give the reader the AHA moment. The reader is going to know before the book ends what the outcome is going to be and you really don't want that to happen. So really be concentrating on your AHA moment which is the biggest part of your mystery novel."