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Mystery: February 19, 2013 Issue [#5525]

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Mystery


 This week: Red Herring and Chekhov's Gun
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
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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

I am Annette Author Icon and I will be your guest editor for this issue.


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Letter from the editor

Red Herring and Chekhov's Gun


Not a fish and not a gun either.

A long time ago, I wrote a Mystery newsletter and was asked, "But what about the Red Herring." While finding out what the Red Herring is, I also came across Chekhov's Gun.

The red herring is an idiom used to describe a clue that is intentionally (or unintentionally) misleading. In mystery writing, the red herring would be used to create an impression in the reader that they have figured out who dun it. In reality, however, the clue given is merely there to create a diversion and the real clue is given in a much less obvious way.

Chekhov's Gun refers to the dramatic principle that if you tell about a gun in the beginning of a story, that gun will need to be shot at some later point in the story. If you don't want any gunshooting in your story, don't show that gun.

Interestingly, both phrases, the Red Herring and Chekhov's Gun are words to describe a technique in story telling and both are in opposition to each other. While you are supposed to use a Red Herring, which could be an object or an action without consequence, your Chekhov's Gun should only be shown if it is indeed going to play a major part in your story.

How do you decide which rule to follow? Just follow your heart! Write the story any which way you want. Dangle the Red Herrings and show Chekhov's Guns. In the end, only you will be able to tell which one is going to be which.


Editor's Picks

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Mary has proof of a UFO and must get it into the public's hands before she's silenced.
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Dread gripped Alicia near the woodshed on her snow-bound property. Story has 2357 words
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#1918697 by Not Available.

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Twisted Tales Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
A monthly contest for stories with a twist. Get 500 GPs for entering! Dec round open!
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Ask & Answer

I got the following comments for my last Mystery Newsletter "Mystery Newsletter (March 3, 2010)" Open in new Window. (It was in March 2010):

SantaBee Author Icon wrote: You know, I always enjoyed the Hardy Boys growing up. I must have read all their books.

I must check them out. I read Enid Blyton and other authors.

Paul Victor Frank Author Icon wrote: The kind of neighborhood mysteries that fascinated me were The Hardy Boys (the original Leslie McFarlane stories) Growing up in the 1950's, having a home and your own room and neighbor kids to play with seems a little naive and fanciful today. Yet, we all needed a sense of security and routine. The missing component was adventure and the Hardys supplied that. A little later I read some of the Alfred Hitchcock Three Detectives series. I know the neighborhoods of Frank and Joe disappeared with dime Coca-Cola and 32 cent a gallon gas, but its still good to see the good guys and gals victorious.

I loved Alfred Hitchcock's Three Detective Series. Those were exactly the kind of kids I was referring to in that old newsletter.

D. Thorsson Author Icon wrote: While I don't have any mysteries posted yet on WDC I am writing a mystery/romance. My main problem seems to be creating believable red herrings. Perhaps you might write a short article on that subject. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

As I read your question here, I realize I didn't not help you in figuring out what a believable Red Herring is. However, I feel the only person able to invent a good Red Herring would be the writer of a story. The writer with the best Red Herrings I can think of right now would be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I recommend you read some Sherlock Holmes stories for inspiration.

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