Icebergs

A great mystery is like an iceberg. We find most of the truth below the surface.

The trick of writing a great mystery/suspense is to tell the reader everything they need to know without them realizing you told them everything they need to know.
Provide clues that double as representing something important to the overall plot.

For example, in my current novel, "Mr. REE, Detective," a teenage girl finds a barrette in the elevator, which makes her feel pretty and stops the annoying comments by her dad's girlfriend to brush her hair. It is however a major clue to the identity of the killer and isn't even a barrette at all!

Creating your characters' back stories

There are many questions you should ask yourself as you develop your main and supporting characters to ensure they become well-developed.

Some questions are basic like how old is the person, what do they look like, what are their names.  But more serious questions can give your characters and story far more depth. You might here it referred to as 'back story,' but each of us are the total sum of our life's experience. So, therefore, you need to know things like:

1. Did he/she have a happy childhood? If not, why not?

2. What were some of their past relationships like with friends or partners? What were the dynamics?

3. What things are important to them in their lives that may or may not be important to the plot, such as loves books or hates dogs.

4. What is the biggest fears in their life? Being alone? Death? Insurance salesmen?

5. What are they most obsessed with? Television? Running marathons? Drinking?

6. What was the biggest moment in their life and why?

7. What was the worst moment in their life and why?

8. What is their biggest secret and does anyone else know it?

9. Who do they trust?

10. What one word would describe them?


I always advise a writer to plan out their characters in great detail when possible. It is just my suggestion. I hope these tips help you some way.

Quote of the Week

Creating Arc of Character

One of the best pieces of advice I had ever been given regarding creating a well-rounded character was to offer each character four questions, which all required a different answer. This works in every genre.

1. What do you HAVE?

2. What do you WANT?

3. What do you NEED?

4. What do you GET?

Each character needs to GROW, and discover what really is important to them in the course of the story.  If the character's desires and needs remain the same, what was the point, for the character to be able to say, "See I was right all along!"

ie. JAWS: Chief Brody

HAVE-Fear of water/Abilities doubted by citizens & himself
WANT-To protect the people of Amity & prove himself
NEED-Overcome Fear of water in order to kill shark
GET-Respect of citizens & himself

It could apply to overcoming a challenge or it may be simply directions in their life. For instance, Doc Hollywood, with Michael J. Fox--"A young doctor on his way across the country to a job interview crashes his car in a small town and is sentenced to work for several days at the town hospital." The doctor's goal is to head to Hollywood for success and fun lifestyle but he ends up falling in love with a small town and its inhabitants, which is the polar opposite of his initial want.

Now consider the main character in your favorite book.  Does she or he have a different answer for each of these questions? Then consider your own characters. It is a great way to make your character well-rounded and of course more interesting!

Quote of the Week

I'm Back!

It's been 20 years since I wrote my first novel, Echoes in the Wind. It's still available on Barnes & Noble online, and still an important part of my development as an author. 

But, as you all know, at some point, life happens. I got married, I had two children which I am still raising, got divorced, got remarried. In between then and now, I wrote stage plays, lyrics, screenplays, acted and directed. I needed a creative outlet--even if it was part time. 

Life hasn't really slowed down, but I once again have come to a crossroad in my life when I decided it's now or never to make that dream come true. 

I'm now working on my mystery book series, featuring the questionably brilliant R. Edwin Easley and his precocious 14-year-old daughter Reggie. 

So, I'm returning to the novel. The first in the mystery series is Mr. REE, DETECTIVE. Here I go.