Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Mystery and Suspense Writing Course Final! And You Have an A!

Complete this final exam to pass the Whodunnit U online course. Have fun with it. You already have an “A” in the course just for trying! And since Whodunnit University is a figment of my imagination this exam may be a figment of yours. Who knows?

Questions 1-3 are multiple choice…your choice.

1. What is the nature of the crime to be solved in your imagined story?
            a) robbery
            b) murder
            c) sabotage
            d) other ______________________

2. Where does your story take place?
            a) in an office
            b) at a museum
            c) on a farm
            d) other _______________________

3. When does your story take place?
            a) last century
            b) now/contemporary
            c) in the future
            d) other _______________________

Questions 4- 7 are fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions about your protagonist, the one who will solve this mystery.

4. What is the name of your protagonist? ____________________________________

5. List three positive characteristics about your protagonist.
           
____________________________     ___________________________   _______________________

6. Name one flaw/weakness for your protagonist.

_____________________________

7. Briefly describe your protagonist.


Questions 8 & 9 are fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions about your victim(s) of the crime.

8. What are the name(s) of your victim(s)?

9. What did your victim(s) have, know, say, or do to make him/her/them a target?


Questions 10 & 11 are about your suspects.

10.  Identify three suspects in the crime committed. Name them here.

_________________________   ________________________________   __________________________

11. For each of your suspects, answer the following questions:
           
            a. Give one good reason each person is a suspect.
Suspect 1:  ________________________________

Suspect 2: _________________________________

Suspect 3: __________________________________

            b. Name two traits that make each suspect unlikeable.

Suspect 1: ___________________________________   ___________________________________

Suspect 2: ___________________________________   ___________________________________

Suspect 3: ___________________________________  ____________________________________

            c. Name one characteristic for each suspect that makes him/her likeable or interesting.

Suspect 1: ________________________________________

Suspect 2: _________________________________________

Suspect 3: _________________________________________

Your final question is an essay question.

Draft your story. No points off for spelling or grammar until you are ready to publish. Merely use this time to get your ideas on paper.


Well, there you have it…a final exam to get you writing your first mystery or suspense story.  Leave your Course Evaluation comments below.

Instructor Note to Student DMWM:  You are exempt from the exam in honor of your birthday! Have a happy day!





                       






Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The ABC's of Suspense and Mystery Writing


Before we start, let’s take a look at the difference between mystery and suspense. The traditional definition usually says that a mystery is when you’re trying to discover who murdered someone and suspense is when you’re trying to stop a murder from happening.

It’s a good definition, but I’d like to add a bit more for a little more clarification. I think mysteries keep the main characters in their day-to-day life while suspense thrusts the characters into a running-for-their-life scenario—if not their life, someone’s life has to be in danger.

A good mystery should have elements of suspense and vice-versa so for our purposes I’m going to focus on suspense—since that’s what I write.


A is for ACTION! ACTION!! and more ACTION!!!

Readers today don’t want to read pages of description, backstory, or about a characters everyday life. They want action and lots of it. And that needs to start on the first page but…

It doesn’t mean the action on the first page has to necessarily have anything to do with the main plot of the book. Often I start my story with the end of some other incident—catching a bad guy; a car accident; an odd phone call from a child.

 Whatever opening you choose it needs to make the reader curious about what will happen next so that they keep reading.

 In one of my books, REDEMPTION, I start the story out with an argument between twin sisters.

My opening line is: “You’re retired from the spy business. Remember!” to which the other twin responds with, “I was never a spy.”

So action doesn’t necessarily have to mean BIG action—but people need to be moving, doing something—anything! They can’t be sitting at the beach reflecting on the failures or successes of their life—unless you’re planning on having a huge shark come out of the water and chase them!
And you can’t pull a bait and switch on your readers either. You don’t get to start with a gripping action scene in the first chapter and then spend the next hundred pages giving them backstory about why it happened.

That’s not suspense. That’s just… boring!

So the action needs to continue throughout the story and it should be escalating in nature. Don’t use all the great action up front and then let the story end with a whimper. Keep raising the stakes with each incident.

Quick Review:

1.    Start the story with action.
2.    Keep the story moving forward with more action.
3.    Escalate the danger with more action.



B is for BACKSTORY.

Writers love backstory!

Readers hate backstory!

At least suspense readers, hate backstory. They don’t want to know what happened to a character fifteen years ago that makes them do what they do now.

The rule of all stories is to move the story forward. This is even more true for suspense/mystery novels. Refer back to A! Readers want action—not history.

But…as I said writers love backstory. And I’m a writer. So in my first draft and even into my second draft, I put in backstory. I want to get to know my characters—who they are, where they came from, why they do what they do. It helps me to understand the story and the characters.

Even in my first and second drafts I don’t put in pages and pages of backstory or even a paragraph at a time. I sneak it in. One thought here another there. A comment that adds to the reader’s knowledge.  A question from another character that will let the other character reveal just a bit about himself.

But as I said, I do that in my first few drafts. During the third and all subsequent drafts, I make a point to cut out as much of the backstory as I can. Some stays, but most of it gets cut.

Does it hurt? Sometimes, it does. Sometimes, I’ll sit and stare and stare at my backstory sentences for the longest time. Then I hit the delete button and reread the section. If the story still makes sense I don’t add it back in. If it creates some confusion, I’ll add it back in and let my editor decide.

Let’s take another quick look at those opening lines in REDEMPTION

“You’re retired from the spy business. Remember!” to which the other twin responds with, “I was never a spy.” Yeah, right—that’s what my brother-in-law used to try to tell me, too.

Did you pick up on the backstory? Right there in the first lines. But back story that makes you wonder—was she a spy or not a spy?

Remember—keep the story moving forward. For the most part, backstory stops the story. It doesn’t move it forward. What we writers think is crucial is usually not!

Quick Review:

1.    Readers hate backstory!
2.    Backstory should be necessary to understanding the present story.
3.    Sneak it in—a little bit at a time.
4.    Cut-cut-cut as much of the backstory as possible!



C is for CURIOSITY.

Curiosity may have killed the cat but it won’t kill your readers or make them die of boredom. No matter what genre you write, curiosity is a necessary part of creating a great story!

Your goal as a writer should be to make your reader want to read just a little bit more even though they have something else to do—like go to work or make dinner! You want them to say, “just one more page…”

So, how do you do that?

Create surprises! Don’t let your reader get bored or too comfortable. Just when they think they know what’s going to happen—mix it up. Back to REDEMPTION-again.

As I was writing the story, I was at the point of what many writers refer to as the sagging middle. Where you’re struggling to find enough to write about so that you can reach your target word count.

I was writing and I was bored. My character was in a motel room and planning on meeting her partner at a restaurant but… as I said, I was getting that bored—ho-hum feeling…so when she opened the door…I had someone knock her down.

It shocked me…and my readers! And that was the end of the chapter so, of course, my readers had to keep reading and I had to keep writing to see who knocked her down and why.

And I’m happy to say, that little surprise really got the story moving. I love when that happens—it’s what makes writing fun!

That brings us to another strategy. Each chapter should end with something that will make the reader want to know what’s going to happen. Sort of think of it as a literal hook that you place around their neck and will pull them into the next chapter.

Another technique for keeping the reader’s curiosity and interest level sparked comes from James Scott Bell. If you don’t know who that is, you should. He not only writes mystery and suspense but has awesome writing books and workshops.

Anyway, his advice is to have something in every scene that will surprise the reader. It doesn’t have to be the BIG shocker like opening the door and getting knocked down. It can be something that will bring a smile to the reader, or just a widening of the eyes.

After I finish the first draft of a book and begin editing, revising, and polishing, I go through each chapter and try to follow his advice. I’m not saying I’m successful in every scene but I do my best.

Quick review:

1.    Mix it up—keep your readers on their toes.
2.    If you the writer is bored so will your readers be.
3.    End each chapter with a hook.
4.    Add something surprising into every scene.


So…there you have my ABCs of writing suspense/mystery novels. I could keep going… D is for Danger… E is for… but, alas, no time!


REDEMPTION
Others may think Jamie Jakowski is a hero, but she knows differently.
Haunted by her past, she seeks redemption by helping others in spite of the danger to herself. However, after almost orphaning her daughter, Jamie opts to retire. When a friend needs her, Jamie agrees to one last undercover operation.
She is determined to reunite a heartbroken mother with her kidnapped son. Used to working alone, Jamie’s not happy when she’s assigned a partner. And after a failed operation and their failed romance, Enrique Rodriguez is the last person she wants to work with—ever.
To succeed, Jamie must confront her past as well as the people who want her dead.


BIO:
Lillian Duncan: stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem!
Lillian is a multi-published writer with several Amazon bestsellers, including The Christmas Stalking and Betrayed. Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense with a touch or two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us
Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.
To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net. Tiaras & Tennis Shoes is her personal blog at www.lillian-duncan.com.









Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Mystery 101: Course Syllabus




Objective: Students completing this course will be able to identify at least three key elements needed to write a mystery. AND REMEMBER FOLKS...THIS IS ALL IN FUN...BUT YOU WILL LEARN!
See last week's post for glimpse of Whodunnit U by clicking HERE.


Assignments (Bookmark these for future reference)
Intro
Read “Top 10 Rules for Mystery Writing” by Ginny Wiehardt http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/genrefiction/tp/mysteryrules.htm This post is a great introduction to mystery writing.
Plot
Read Dramatic Structure and Plot…or how to keep your story from circling the drain by Hallie Ephron http://mysterywriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Ephron_-_Plotting_-_Website.pdf I like this article because it gives great tips for creating a plot with rising tension and ultimate confrontation.
Characters
Taking the Mystery Out of Writing Mysteries by Dennis Palumbo http://www.writersstore.com/taking-the-mystery-out-of-writing-mysteries/ This is a super post about character development. Think about your own protagonist and antagonist. The characters are every bit as important as the plot when it comes to writing a mystery.
Strategy
Understanding the Essentials of Writing a Murder Mystery https://www.standoutbooks.com/essentials-writing-murdermystery/ Don’t let the title fool you. This post is all about strategy. I have often thought that charting the storyline of a mystery can be likened to solving a maze. Hint: Start with the end. The twists and turns and dead ends are what make the story interesting.
Homework
Your assignment is to draft a short story mystery. Play with it. Have fun. Roll the idea around in your brain and let it spill out onto paper. It belongs to you. No one needs to read it except you.  But….we at Whodunnit U expect you to draft a 110 characters or less descriptor of your idea. A few examples are below.

Here are a few examples of your short story assignment:

Example 1: Would let a stranger in your house? What if he were the repairman? And what if he let himself in?

Example 2: The witness said the man had a mustache. The cowhands all have a mustache. Except one. But can he be trusted?

Example 3: Tim stared at the diamond on Jen's hand. Only one ring like it in the world. The one he buried with Susan.


Got it?…now let’s hear those crazy ideas. Leave your descriptor in the comment section below.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Whodunnit U Remains Undefeated- Orientation to this Unique University

The Silver Sleuths at Whodunnit University (WU) are holding tight to their perfect record, remaining undefeated in this, the fifth week of collegiate football.

J.R.M.
Whodunnit University prepares writers to put together well-crafted mystery and suspense novels as well as short stories. “Anyone can attend WU for the month of October tuition free,” University President, Dr. Rebecca Waters shared at a recent press conference.

Potential students of mystery and suspense are encouraged to participate each week in the online study program hosted by Whodunnit U during the month of October.

Week one begins today. Participants are asked to name their favorite mystery or suspense character. “The university will accept characters from books, television, movies, or plays. You may also include characters from courtroom thrillers,” Waters said. “Leave the names of the character(s) you’ve chosen in the comments section below.”

One additional assignment for the week requires participants to think about an idea for a short story or novel.  “Next week we’ll be asking you to share your idea in 110 characters or less. You don’t need to give it all away. Be as general as you like for this assignment. We merely want to begin to tap into your creative side and get you thinking. We at Whodunnit University are always looking for new writing talent,” Waters shared.

Writing talent? What about football talent? How has WU managed to not lose a single game in their short history? “It’s easy,” Waters said. “We actually don’t have a team. Of course we don’t’ really have a university, either.”

Ahh…mystery solved.

However, the mythical school will offer an online course over the next three weeks for writers interested in learning more about composing their own mystery or suspense.

October 12th—You will receive your Mystery 101 course syllabus. Take time to read and study the art of writing outlined in the syllabus.

October 19th—Whodunnit U will host visiting professor, Lillian Duncan, whose latest release, Game On, is doing well in the suspense market.

October 26- Final Exam: Have fun with it. It won’t be graded. You’ve already earned your “A.”

By the end of the four weeks, you will have resources, ideas, and the nugget of an idea to develop into a novel during November…whether you participate in NaNoWriMo or not!

*To register for the course, be sure to sign up to receive email notifications of this blog, A Novel Creation. The blog is for writers in all stages of their writing career and offers new posts every Wednesday.