Why are mystery books different to write?

Do you like a good mystery story? 

Do you know why?

Mysteries have their own rules that set them apart for other general novels. It's important to recognize their unique structure. All good fiction should be about change. Even if the change is only that the main character realizes and admits that he will not change.

 In general novels, the epiphany that leads to self-discovery or change is usually the climax of the novel. Everything that has gone before in the book leads to change at the end of the book.

In a Mystery Novel, the change comes first, with the murder, and everything flows out of it. Murder changes the orderly flow of civilized events. The sleuth sets out to mend the tear in society's fabric by uncovering, gathering and piecing together information exposing the killer.

At the end of the book, the killer is caught, removed from society and the disruptive change at the beginning is corrected, patched or paid for. Order is restored. Both the characters and the reader can heave a satisfied sigh of relief.

Agatha Christie maintained that murder was not the beginning for the story, it was the end. The history of the people and events that occurred over the years before the murder all came together until 'Zero Hour' when the murder was committed. This concept is well displayed in her novel "Toward Zero."

If you'd like more information about Christie and her books, check out the tab for the workshop, Agatha Christie's Notebooks.

How to find a plot hole in your mystery.

or     

8 basic steps in a murder mystery

The Problem:

I've been writing book 4 in the Caleb Cove Mystery Series. Doing well--I thought - until I reached about 18,000 words and realized. I had solid characters, lots of action, BUT no danger, no suspense, no tension and now where to go that was interesting in terms of a mystery story.
Major missing pieces.  **BIG SIGH**  


For the last two nights I watched old mystery series and crocheted, my go-to for keeping front mind busy so underneath can brainstorm. No real progress on the story ( did make 2 hats.)

Return to the drawing board:

This morning I decided to forget my location, action and characters and go back to the basics of a murder plot. In other words, backing up and looking at the big picture which needs to include these for starters.

Killing, killer, victim, discovery, reporting, sleuth and solution.

My brainstorming tool of choice:

 -- a mind map. (See Tony Buzan & Mind Mapping)

I started with the bodies, asked questions and fanned out around the central point. And bingo, I found my missing link and wrote down a BASIC plot line. (On left of diagram.) The long curvy arrow is the missing link.

What I found is not visible (x marks the spot) because that would be a spoiler for the book. (Came Home From the Grave -available on most digital sites & paper on Amazon)

 The Result: The Plot

 Sleuth:

1) finds bodies, 

2) investigates, 

3) learn secrets, 

4) gets found out by killer before telling secret, 

5) ends up in mortal danger , 

6) escapes OR is rescued or a bit of both

7) reveals and catches killer

8) gets reward

  Steps 3 and 4 were the missing pieces.

Now I know where to put all that action and character development and what to add to make things worse, to increase tension, and to enhance the mystery.

  What is your go-to tool for solving writing problems - plot, character or other?

 

 

How to dig up bones for a mystery in Canada

...over the top forensic information for Canadian writers

Coroner  or Medical Examiner?

 Four Canadian Provinces have Medical Examiners.

• Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. 

The other six provinces have Coroners.

• Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia

Coroners

- are responsible for overseeing investigations into unexplained natural deaths or unnatural deaths.
-  do not have to be physicians
- can call and oversee an in2uest into a death they have investigated

Medical Examiners

 - are also responsible for overseeing investigations into unexplained natural deaths or unnatural deaths.
- must be a physician
- cannot preside over an inquest; can only appear as a witness
- might also be a Forensic Pathologist by training. This always applies to a Chief Medical Examiner.

 For more information on their duties and other aspects of forensics in Canada, look up this publication on the net.

 All You Ever Wanted to Know About Forensic Science

 in Canada but Didn't Know Who to Ask.

Forensics - Real Life Not TV

 Most of realize that the CSI and other shows with forensics as a basis for the story are fake. They are Hollywood versions of what makes the stories play out in 44 minutes and 32 seconds.

The real forensics are much more basic.

 - The techs most time where a uniform of some type so they are distinguishable at the crime scene as a member of the police team
- The labs are much less flashy - as i not at all.
- Fingerprints to not flash up and merge to prove they are a match.
- When processing the scene, the techs wear white paper suite, booties, head covers and often face masks. Cross contamination is easy to do, and that is a huge no-no. If you screw up one case, you are out of the forensics unit for good.

For further information on the steps to processing a crime scene and the investigation of materials and bodies, check out the thorough article written by Graham Pilsword on the CSI: Halifax with the input of Detective Constable Robert Furlong, Forensic Identification Technician - Nova Scotia's answer to Gil Grissom.

CSI: Halifax : Halifax forensics vs. Hollywood forensics

 - Hot on the trail of the truth.

 

How to dig up skeletal bodies the right way.

There are articles on exhumation, on archeology and on digging up bodies from dirt. For those who are writing fiction, enough realistic information is needed to pull the reader into the scene. A few well placed comments or observations by one of you characters might well suffice. But what should they be?

• Dirt in orifices is kept in place during the dig and removal from the ground.

Parker watched as the forensics tech cut into the dirt around the fully intact skull and removed it from its forgotten grave with all the internal dirt intact. 

• The skeleton or body is unearthed from the top of the head downward in sequential areas.  Skull, Neck, Torso, Arms and legs and finally, hands and feet.
• As much, if not more, work in forms of planning and gathering information is done prior to starting the dig.
• The use of proper tools (e.g. ) plasterer's leaf trowel.

Many other useful tips are available in:

The Field Guide to the Excavation of Inhumated Human Remains

FINALLY, Book 4--Came Home from the Grave

The folks in Caleb's Cove, or Caleb Cove if you want to believe the map and not the locals, are at it again. This time it's a cold case.  

The Caleb Cove Mystery Series - Book Four

Came Home From the Grave

  Contable Natalie Parker is back in action after suffering through an explosion and the resulting concussion. Her first case back takes her to Caleb's Cove when Adam's dog, Mutt, brings home human bones.



Her contact is the solid officer from book 3, Constable Harvey Conrad. And of course, several of the community get in on the action. Look for the Ritcey's--Devon, Uncle Lem and Jackson to help out.




As usual the action escalates until Natalie is in danger, Mutt is in a frenzy and Harvey... well, no spoilers. Use the links on the right to find the digital book at your favorite digital store or hold on until it is available in paperback in about a week.

Welcome back to Caleb's Cove, The Touched by Murder Club, and the interfering (or helping) residents.

Mahrie

 

5 BASICS OF CREATIVE NON-FICTION

Memoirs

CREATIVE NON-FICTION

Telling truth like a story.

(NOTE: the information is gleaned from numerous articles and how-to-instructions including How to Write Creative Non-fiction by Donna Kay Cindy Kakonge. (On KOBO) (www.donnakakonge.com)

(Examples and stories are my own.)

CHARACTERISTICS OF CREATIVE NON-FICTION

* the writing is dramatic

* it can have several POVs

* allows more freedom than straight journalism, which is just the facts.

It’s facts plus a sprinkle of imagination.

This form of storytelling is just one of the forms of memoir or creative non-fiction

FOCUS

•The focus is told in one sentence with the word “because” in it. These is not a theme or a premise. It is why the story matters.

•My father is my hero because he has courage in unexpected situations

•My life is rich and full because my parents and siblings are present and participating in my life.

• Beginning, middle and end

• As with most stories, creative non-fiction has a set-up, the middle action and a conclusion.

PROCESS - 5 STEPS

1. Think of a story from your past.

•  Write down the emotional truth.
•  Write down the factual truth.
•   Write a focus statement.

2. Defining emotional truth vs factual truth.

F.T. –action, items, details that were reality anyone could see

E.T –how you felt at the time –the feeling from the heart

3. Next come the “so what’s.”

•Why might this story matter?

            Lesson? Entertainment? Warning?

•What about it could resonate with others?

•Does it offer a shared basic life truth?

•Can others see themselves in your story?

•Does it capture an element of your family’s past that might influence the newer generations?

* Can you look back now and see what has changed in your life?

* Does it highlight the perceptions of people at different stages of life?

4.  Retrieving the Memories

•All of our senses trigger memory.

            Smell is said to be the most powerful memory trigger.

•Use: pictures, family and friends stories, favorite foods, visit places from the past.

·         Sniff things, touch items, eat a favorite, remembered food

·         Listen to old songs and flip through photos

·         Close your eyes and relive the moments

·         Notice when a memory is triggered by something around you

5.  Deciding how to tell it-tragedy or comedy, heartwarming or heart wrenching?

•Tragedy is a sad ending that could have been prevented, often by the participants (Romeo and Juliet).

•Comedy stirs amusement or makes you laugh

•Many stories can be told two ways- choose yours

Define what YOUR story is really about. One of these, or somewhere in between.

6.  •WHO, •WHAT, •WHEN, •WHERE   •WHY AND •HOW

•  Answer the 5 W's and the How
• Why do you remember this story?
•  What is it emotionally about for you? 
• (or the family member if you are telling another person's story.) 
• Use details to draw the reader into the experience of the story.

EXERCISE:

THINKING OF YOUR STORY:

1. Write your focus statement.
2. Tell your story.
3. Include all the details. The factual truth.
4. What is your emotional truth? Weave in the feeling associated with the story.
5. Write about a half page focus paragraph which summarizes your story and includes the word because.

 MORE RESEARCH LINKS:

127 Prompts To Complete Before You Write About Yourself - Writers Write...

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263249540699057927/

127 Prompts To Complete Before You Write About Yourself - Writers Write. ...

Great Tips on How to Write Your Memoir | Reader's Digest

www.rd.com/advice/great-tips-on-how-to-write-your-memoir/

 

AND EVERYONE NEEDS A DUMMIES CHEAT SHEET

Memoir Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet - dummies

www.dummies.com/education/language.../memoir-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/

THE CALEB COVE MYSTERY SERIES

THE LEFT-BEHIND BRIDE

TOOLS NOT RULES - write your book, your way