  Mystery
This week: Edited by: darkin
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1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
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7. Removal instructions
Welcome to the Mystery Newsletter. Why are mysteries so popular? Because mysteries make you think. You follow every clue, examine the crime scenes and remember what each suspect said, until you solve the crime. A good mystery can keep you interested until the end. A great mystery will keep you guessing until the last page...when it makes you slap your forehead in surprise!
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** Image ID #916735 Unavailable **
Finding Prompts to Inspire Your Stories
Sometimes a story idea just hits a writer. A seed of a story pops into our mind and we are off and writing. Other times, we are not so lucky. We sit at our desks and wonder what we will write today.
On days when the ideas just will not come, I like to use writing prompts to get my creative juices flowing. I find writing prompts to be inspirational. Many of my stories and even poems came from something I have heard, or read recently.
There are groups dedicated to writing prompts on the site. You will find a list of them at the end of the editor's picks.
Using someone else's prompts is great, but there are times you won't be able to get online to retrieve them. Those are the times you will need to find your own prompts so you can keep writing. Where in the real-world can you find your own muse-inspiring writing prompts?
1. Writing prompts in literature. Take any book off of your shelf. Flip through it and stop at a random page. Close your eyes and put your finger anywhere on the page. Use that line to start your story. You can use this method with just about any kind of book regardless of the genre. Another suggestion is to look for inspiring sentences while you are reading. I keep a notebook near where I read, and when I find a line that strikes me as inspiring, I write it down.
2. Writing prompts from real-life conversations. This is another great place to find a writing prompts. Everywhere you go, there are people talking. Start listening to what they say, and how they say it. Write down snippets of conversation to use later for inspiration. Listen for the dialect and personality. You can learn a lot about someone by the way they use their words.
3. Television and movies are a great place to find inspiration. Now, I am not suggesting copying what you see on the big, or little, screen. But you can get great ideas from watching them. It could be a character or a line that makes you run to find your pad of paper and pencil. Either way, you are writing. You can also try a trick I use all the time. Turn on a TV show you do not normally view and watch it without the sound. Then make up the story and dialog based on the actor's body language and movements. You will be amazed at what you come up with.
4. Signs, flyers, and other things you see along the way are also great sources for inspiration. How about that odd band name plastered all over town. Or the new coffee shop that uses a unique spin for their business name. Even that weird street name could lead to a story; you just have to give it a chance.
5. When all else fails, buy a book of writing prompts. There are so many wonderful books out there filled to the brim with inspiring writing prompts. You can even find ones dedicated to your specific genre of choice.
Inspiration is everywhere you look, even in the most mundane and unimaginative places. All it takes to find these tidbits of creativity is pay attention to your surroundings. Do this, and you will never run out of things to write about.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin
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Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!
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| |  | Whole Again (E)
Short Story Prompt 15/9/05 - an aging war veteran searches for the answer
#1016505 by Amaris   |
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Prompted by a news story about a mysterious sea creature found in Chile...what is it?
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Prompt Inspired Contests
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Groups that use writing prompts
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
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Thank you all for taking the time to read this newsletter, and for all of your wonderful feedback Until next time!
Darkin
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Submitted By: SHERRI GIBSON 
Submitted Comment:
Another exceptional newsletter, Darkin. There's nothing better than a well written mystery that keeps us in suspense from beginning to end.
Hugs,
Sherri
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Submitted By: billwilcox
Submitted Comment:
Squirrely,
No one knows how to write mysteries as well as you do. This newsletter, like all the others you write, is an excellent example of How-To-Do-It. It is also easy to see what your favorite genre is because I could feel the enthusiasm you put into it. Great job!
-Bill
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Submitted By: Vivian 
Submitted Comment:
Wow! Thanks, Darkin, for the idea of a character keeping a journal or diary. What a great way to reveal missing components. ~~ Viv
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Mystery: February 21, 2007 Issue [#1562]
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