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.

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