The Art of the Chase in Mystery Writing
Are you struggling to plot your murder mystery, unsure of how to create those essential twists and turns that keep readers guessing? In both this blog and my next subscriber-only Monday Writing Motivation mailer, I explore how understanding the dynamic between predator and prey can transform your approach to mystery writing.
Writing Tips
- Begin with your antagonist’s story. Map out what they did, why they did it, and most importantly, how they try to cover their tracks. This creates the foundation for your detective’s investigation.
- Create a detailed environment for your mystery. Just as a lake has its hidden depths, vegetation, and structures, your setting should offer natural opportunities for concealment, deception, and revelation.
- Work with imperfect information. Remember that your detective and killer are making decisions without full knowledge of what the other knows. Use this limitation to create authentic tension and believable mistakes.
Writing Exercise
Choose a location you know well (your workplace, favorite park, or local café). Write a short scene where someone is trying to hide evidence of a crime, using three specific features of this environment. Then write a companion scene from the detective’s perspective, showing how these same features could be misinterpreted. Keep each scene under 500 words.
Quote of the week
The criminal is the creative artist; the detective only the critic. – G.K. Chesterton
Chesterton’s insight reminds us that in mystery writing, the antagonist shapes the story through their actions, while the detective merely follows the trail. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for creating compelling mysteries.
Want to dive deeper into the art of crafting compelling mysteries through the lens of nature’s own game of cat and mouse? Sign up for our Monday Writing Motivation email for exclusive content, including a fascinating exploration of how hunting cormorants on a winter lake illuminate the essential dynamics of mystery writing.
