 Mystery: January 15, 2020 Issue [#9964] |
This week: Mysterious people Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: "The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery."
~Anais Nin |
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How do you develop your mystery characters? Mystery characters need to be well developed, because readers need to consider their personalities when trying to solve the mystery as they read.
The story will seem unrealistic if the author forces a character to do something that seems contrary to their personality. Of course, people sometimes do things that would be out of character for them. If your characters do anything they wouldn't be expected to do, you need to give them a good reason or explanation.
Writers often make the mistake of of making the protagonist perfect and the antagonist pure evil. Imperfect characters are usually more interesting and more realistic. Imperfect characters are more likely to make mistakes or bad decisions which can lead to interesting story developments. Remember that there can be a fine line between imperfect and annoying. I have stopped reading a few stories that were otherwise good because the main character was so annoying that I hoped the villain would get them!
In most mysteries, some characters are keeping a secret, while others are trying to learn it. What lengths would your character go to in order to protect their secret? Would they lie, steal, or even kill? Make sure the motive is strong if the character commits a severe crime to keep the secret.
The "twist" in some mysteries depends on a character not being what he pretends to be. For example, a loving husband and father might be leading a double life as a serial killer. If a situation like this is part of your story, try to insert subtle clues to the person's true character.
How much do you know about your characters? In order to develop their personalities, you might want to get to know them as you would an actual person. Where did they grow up? Are their parents still alive, and if so, do they get along? Do they have siblings? Do they like being around other people, and if so, who is their best friend? What are their attitudes toward religion and politics? Did they go to college, and if so, what was their area of study? Do they have a significant other or children? Do they have a job, and if so, do they enjoy it? How would they react to a situation such as getting bad service in a restaurant? How would they behave if they were accused of something they didn't do? Is the character someone you would like to be around in real life?
Remember that you don't have to insert all the background character building information into the story unless it is important. The information is mostly for you, to see your characters more clearly.
Something to try: Write a mystery story where a character keeps a secret in a unique way. |
| | Halo Effect (13+)
Reviews welcomed. Darkness descends, but light prevails in a peculiar way. Nominee
#1950165 by Nixie🦊  |
| | Friends? (13+)
Beth waited for her friends at the campsite till she got a call on her dead cell phone.
#891652 by Cubby  |
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| Question for next time: What topics would you like to see in future mystery newsletters? |
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