 Mystery: October 18, 2006 Issue [#1323] |
  Mystery
This week: Edited by: schipperke
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Recipe for a Mystery/Horror Genre story:
1 Part creeping shadows
1 Part damsel in distress
2 Parts dead party guests
1 Fine detective
Mix well, spice as needed, serve to readers well blended.
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One night, last week, I was introduced to a captivating black and white movie called “The Uninvited”, based on a novel of the same name by Dorothy MacArdle. I was mesmerized by the plot and stayed up past my usual bedtime.
“The Uninvited” is the story of a pair of siblings who buy a haunted house. The story revolves around the mystery of who is haunting the house, and why. There is a nicely complicated solution to the mystery, which I will not divulge, in case the movie is back on television, or you may want to read the book.
When I pondered why I enjoyed “The Uninvited” so much, I realized the story was a cross-genre of mystery and horror, which when done correctly, can bolt me to my chair more than a straight horror or mystery novel can.
Other examples of the cross-genre of horror/mystery include “Turn of the Screw” by Henry James (a classic tale, also made into several movies) and “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins (also a movie). Several of Poe’s stories fit into the cross-genre category of horror/mystery such as “Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”. When you read these stories you are both horrified and anxious to move ahead with the story to find out the solution to the mystery.
For the month of October, it may be enjoyable to think of a story that combines both elements of horror and mystery. For the mystery angle, the story should have elements of suspense and surprise, and a well-drawn-out protagonist and antagonist. For the horror angle, the story needs to make the small hairs stand up on the back of the reader’s neck, yet not be so outrageous and gory the reader loses interest.
If you can write such a tale by my next newsletter by November 13, and send it in to me, I will be sending off an appropriate merit badge to the story that makes me want to cheat and read the ending first; so I know the solution to the mystery, AND makes me scared to read your story at night!
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Some of the stories are a blend of horror/mystery in celebration of Halloween..hope you enjoy!
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Nighala a.k.a. Doxie Do-Right  :Schipperke,
Thank you so much for an entertaining NL. I especially loved your warning about the dangers of back-story. I think a lot of authors fall so in love with their stories and characters they forget that the reader might not care quite as much. :) Thanks again.
Nighala
I think you are right! Plus, I think some writer's don't remember the reader likes to user their imagination when reading, also.
DC  :I like these tips. I wondered when I was young why my stories at times would be boring. Thanks
Sincerely,
D. Charles
You are welcome. And I bet you could re-write your stories from when you were younger, and they would be great.
dogfreek21:Ah, backstory. The darn thing is one of my worst enemies in writing... it ALWAYS seems to ruin things... I just want the reader to know as much as I do sometimes!!!
True, you do want to share with the reader, which is great, but in meaningful tidbits is usually the best way.
billwilcox:The back story here is the editor who wrote this marvelous article. Write On, Schip!
Don't forget to write me a mystery/horror story and check out the ones I mentioned above as examples of classic mystery/horrors. |
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