\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5002-Pass-the-red-herring.html
Mystery: April 25, 2012 Issue [#5002]

Newsletter Header
Mystery


 This week: Pass the red herring!
  Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Quote for the day:Murderers will try to recall the sequence of events, they will remember exactly what they did just before and just after. But they can never remember the actual moment of killing. This is why they will always leave a clue.
Peter Ackroyd


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 0910355479
Amazon's Price: $ 13.99


Letter from the editor

Where would mystery stories be without the red herring? A red herring is a false clue deliberately inserted in a story to misdirect the reader. There are several different explanations for the origin of the term. In one version, red herring, a strong smelling fish cured in brine, is used in the training of scent tracking hounds. Once the dog is given a scent to track, a red herring is dragged across the path, and the dog is taught to follow the correct scent without being distracted by the fishy smell. In another version, criminals used a red herring in a similar fashion to confuse tracking dogs.

In reality, smelly fish were probably never used to train or confuse dogs. That idea was invented by a journalist who used it as a metaphor for the way the press can distract readers from important issues by emphasizing unimportant ones.

Whatever their origin, red herrings are essential to mystery writing. Reading a mystery story is a little like navigating your way through a maze. Wrong turns and blind alleys are part of the fun. A mystery story with no red herrings would be like a maze with no wrong turns--way too easy!

Characters, objects, or events can all serve as red herrings. Some red herrings are seen by both the reader and the characters, and others are intended just for the reader.

Red herrings intended for both the reader and the characters need to be believable. If your detective spends half the story chasing after a false suspect, you need to give him a logical reason for doing so.

Red herrings intended just for the reader must be placed so a reader has a fair chance of picking them up without being too obvious. Seasoned mystery readers know that if a clue is too obvious it has to be false.

You might be tempted to fill your story with thousands of red herrings, but that usually isn't a good idea. If a reader needs a scorecard to keep track of all the suspects and a warehouse to store all the clues, the story is probably a little too complicated. Use only as many red herrings as you need to keep the puzzle challenging.

If you have a mystery story that isn't working, maybe the red herrings are to blame. Are there too many of them? Not enough? Are they too obvious or too obscure? Do the red herrings add to the readers' enjoyment of the puzzle or make them feel cheated?

Something to try: Look at a mystery story by your favorite author and identify all the red herrings. How does the author introduce them? How does the real clue blend in? When you first read the story, which red herrings led you astray? Then look at your own stories, and try to use red herrings to improve them.


Editor's Picks

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1314272 by Not Available.


Image Protector
STATIC
A Murder of Crows Open in new Window. (13+)
Father McKenna encounters a familiar harbinger of death.
#1694056 by Winnie Kay Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1817896 by Not Available.


Matt Cupid, For Hire. Open in new Window. (13+)
A story written in the style of Phillip Marlowe and Sam Spade. Bard's Hall contest winner.
#1644781 by Preacher Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1391293 by Not Available.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

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!

ASIN: B07P4NVL51
Amazon's Price: Price N/A


Ask & Answer

Question for next time: What do you think is the hardest part of writing mysteries?

Answers to last month's question: Do you plan your stories or just start writing?

J. A. Buxton Author Icon
Once an idea drifts into my imagination, I simply begin writing. More often than not, my characters quickly take over so I just sit back and type what they tell me. The main problem with writing this way is what I intended as short stories only ended after my characters let go of my worn-out fingers after at least 100 chapters. The third in my "Home of the" trilogy began as a one-word Cramp prompt and finished 129 chapters later.

BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful Author Icon
I tend to just write, but I usually have a general idea on what to write about.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07N36MHWD
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5002-Pass-the-red-herring.html