  Mystery
This week: Open season on plot bunnies Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: In order to have a plot, you have to have a conflict, something bad has to happen.
~Mike Judge |
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Are plot bunnies lurking in your story? Plot bunnies are subplots and plot elements that the author loves and feels compelled to include in spite of the fact that they contribute nothing to the story, and may even ruin it. One or two small plot bunnies may be harmless, but if they are allowed to multiply as rabbits often do, they will chew your story to pieces. These evil creatures can wreck any story, but are especially harmful to mysteries, because a sound plot is so important to a mystery.
You may not even know if your stories are infested with plot bunnies, because authors seldom recognize them in their own stories. A plot bunny may actually be one of your favorite scenes, characters, or plotlines. You might find yourself becoming defensive if any reviewer suggests changing it because it has personal significance for you. Here are some examples:
Say that you decide to name all the characters in your story after friends and family members. That would be fine, but what if all those people have modern names, and your story takes place in the 1700s when those names would have been unheard of. This doesn't seem like a big deal, but it would bring readers out of the story and make it seem less real. It might be better to honor your friends and family in a different story and give the characters in this story names that would fit the time and place.
The same thing is true if you decide to base a story on events that really happened to you. Stories based on actual events can be great, but other "real life" stories just aren't that interesting to anyone who was not part of it. Don't base a fictional story on your own experience unless you are willing to edit.
One type of plot bunny that pops up a lot in mystery stories is a subplot involving the detective and his or her significant other. With the right characters, this relationship can be an asset to the story, but be careful about letting it take over. If you find yourself focusing more on the relationship than the mystery, a plot bunny has been born.
Plot bunnies aren't necessarily bad writing, but may just be in the wrong story. If you need to edit out a scene or character that you love, don't throw it away. Taming a rabid plot bunny could be a simple as giving it a story of its own. |
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Who is the slapdash, foolish criminal behind a crime scene in a hotel?
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Mystery: May 20, 2015 Issue [#6995]
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