 Mystery: October 06, 2021 Issue [#11011] |
This week: Darkness Edited by: NaNoNette  
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“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin
“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.”
― Mark Twain |
| ASIN: B07B63CTKX |
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Darkness
This past summer, I started walking on a track. It is a track that is not attached to a school. Instead, it is open to the public. There is a five-lane running track and a soccer field in the middle. First come first served. Since I started using the track in May, I have come to recognize many of the regulars. There is a whole crew of people who show up regularly at the same time as me.
While I recognize people and I know some of them recognize me, we do not speak to one another. We are strangers to each other. We preserve the mystery of our identities, of our schedules, and why we are there on some days, but not there on other days.
After a couple of months of walking and interval run/walking, I graduated to running three to five miles on those running days. 6 a.m. was the preferred time to get started. In summer, 6 a.m. was already daylight. Now, 6 a.m. is pitch black. When I am at the beginning of the 100 meters straightaway, I can't see who is at the other end. The track is covered in darkness. The identities of the other people on the track are even more mysterious.
I find that I do not enjoy running in pitch black darkness. At that time of day, I am still tired. I don't want to wonder or worry. I just want to run. The mystery of what's in front of me is too thick, too daunting, too much.
What does that have to do with writing?
Mystery writing includes a lot of stories that happen in the night. In the darkness. Victorian mystery stories had the perfect setting. Gaslight casts an eerie shine, but does not truly pierce the darkness. Even bright flashlights are limited to a beam that cuts through darkness.
When you write a mystery scene that happens in the night, ask yourself how far can your characters really see? What can they see. Is what they see real? And if they see someone ... who is it? what does he want? why is one of her arms longer than the other? and why are even black cats grey at night?
Do you fear darkness or do you live in darkness? |
| | | Mia (13+)
Sometimes an event can punch a hole to show the darkness beyond. Short Shots March 2019
#2186737 by Kotaro  |
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2194165 by Not Available. |
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This item number is not valid.
#2250005 by Not Available. |
| |  | The Reaping (13+)
Spending the night in my father's house following his death uncovered the darkness within.
#2255293 by McFar  |
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I received this reply to my last Mystery newsletter "Gripping Tales"
wdwilcox wrote: A very informative newsletter 
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. |
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