cj Sez: I’m now back at the keyboard, thinking up another
adversity for the protagonist/sleuth in the WIP I’ve been working on for
years. It’s a mystery, and writing a mystery is a learning process for me.
Thriller and
suspense genres I have managed to some small degree, but how to write a real mystery
is a mystery to me.
What remains the
same among genres I write is that my protagonist (i.e., sleuth) must be
likeable, have some personality quirks, and a bit of backstory baggage to be dropped
intermittently into the story (no info dumps, please). My sleuth in this
mystery has a confidant, which is a recommended device. There is a unique
setting and a love interest to add a little jazz. Each of the major characters,
including the bad guy, has a secret that I hope will generate some degree of
sympathy.
Mysteries do need a
theme, and I have a theme that will, I believe, hit a universal nerve with my
readers. Where I’m struggling is with the clues and red herrings. Where and how
to place them so they invite the readers to try to solve the mystery but don’t
reveal so much that they really can.
Like all
manuscripts, I understand my mystery will change with each future edit cycle,
and it has—that’s, the reason it’s taken me so long to finish it. My
characters, clues, and red herrings change and must be rearranged. For example:
I know the victim is murdered (off-page), but the description of one of my current
red herrings may force me to change the “how” somewhat, again. Changing that
scene will most certainly waterfall, again, into other changes throughout the
manuscript.
On the very slim
plus side, what I really like about all this frustration is that I’m learning
new things. My personal goal has always been to learn something new every day,
and this never-ending project is certainly helping me reach my goal. How about
you? Have you reached a personal goal this year?
§§
Author and Reader Notes:
“There is something invigorating about typing the words THE END on a rough draft. The story has unspooled from your fingers for weeks, months, maybe even years and, finally, you have reached the resolution.You may feel relief, excitement, or even a renewed dedication to the story. You may even be motivated to dive right into revisions so you can share it with the world as soon as possible. But rushing to edit can be the biggest mistake a writer makes.”
Find out what she means by that by clicking on the following
link:
///
CALLAHAN IN ACTION, Book 6 in the Cat Callahan Mystery Series, is scheduled to launch August 8 and it's available for preorder so you can grab it now at https://books2read.com/CatCallahan6
§§
Okay, that’s it for
today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising
prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.
cj
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Nota bene: Angela Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us
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