tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post8436127311913948374..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: The Beginner's Guide To Writing A MysteryStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-41062420320640526222014-12-09T18:40:03.595-06:002014-12-09T18:40:03.595-06:00I have never written one that was exclusively myst...I have never written one that was exclusively mystery, but I have hidden villains before. When an author does that, I have noticed that the real villain is in behind the scenes discreetly misleading the main character. The villain either slips up eventually, has a change of heart, or the protagonist puts the clues together to realize their identity.pgacnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01868397677690901418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-58762030652147938972014-12-09T18:10:36.738-06:002014-12-09T18:10:36.738-06:00YES. The red herrings in series. So helpful. Proba...YES. The red herrings in series. So helpful. Probably half of the last book in my series came out of sentences that I wrote into books one and two and went, what, oh, well, I'll just leave them and see if they go somewhere... ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150136011032761640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-13500861306834112752014-12-09T02:45:36.437-06:002014-12-09T02:45:36.437-06:00Hmm....I'm not writing a mystery, but nonethel...Hmm....I'm not writing a mystery, but nonetheless this should help when I do. Or even if I don't. Thanks a lot, Mrs. Morrill!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03465957545134125403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79650746593071677612014-12-08T21:42:58.082-06:002014-12-08T21:42:58.082-06:00You can email me privately and we can talk about i...You can email me privately and we can talk about it. We try for 4-6 weeks, but it just depends on how big of a critique it is.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-59477634201578050452014-12-08T21:41:27.754-06:002014-12-08T21:41:27.754-06:00hey thanks for the tips i my self always wanted to...hey thanks for the tips i my self always wanted to write a mystery though often would confuse myself maybe this could benefit meAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-57239904451524976602014-12-08T15:58:57.163-06:002014-12-08T15:58:57.163-06:00I don't think they're doing that anymore. ...I don't think they're doing that anymore. See the link: http://goteenwriters.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-new-go-teen-writers-rewards.htmlLinea Marshallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48520533461303368542014-12-08T15:20:25.454-06:002014-12-08T15:20:25.454-06:00Thank you so much, this was very helpful! Even not...Thank you so much, this was very helpful! Even not writing pure mystery, I learned a lot. <br />On another note- if I use my old teen writers reward points (agh can't remember the exact name :P) for a critique, how long do you think it will take for you to get it back to me? :) <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9153295422368324022014-12-08T14:24:28.726-06:002014-12-08T14:24:28.726-06:00I too have a mystery idea lurking on my mental har...I too have a mystery idea lurking on my mental hard drive that's currently characters sans plot. Someday I'll write that poor teen detective's story... But for now I'm excited about my mystery idea that has both. :)Miri Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-11553192236929870932014-12-08T14:14:55.567-06:002014-12-08T14:14:55.567-06:00Thanks so much for this post! My current project h...Thanks so much for this post! My current project has a kidnapping mystery, and I had a rough few weeks of brainstorming when I didn't know who did it. If I can, I'm going to make some of the red herrings in the kidnapping mystery be clues for the 'mystery' of the MC's backstory (which she's blocking out herself), but coming up with red herrings that conveniently fit those criteria is proving trickier than I thought...Miri Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9113100619755983722014-12-08T14:12:05.048-06:002014-12-08T14:12:05.048-06:00I'm glad it was helpful, Kate!I'm glad it was helpful, Kate!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-8216753374125575302014-12-08T14:11:44.566-06:002014-12-08T14:11:44.566-06:00There's a lot going on behind the scenes, that...There's a lot going on behind the scenes, that's for sure!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-8780746337435444302014-12-08T14:11:12.750-06:002014-12-08T14:11:12.750-06:00I didn't think I would either!I didn't think I would either!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-45334793940477138722014-12-08T14:10:53.131-06:002014-12-08T14:10:53.131-06:00It was VERY overwhelming, and it took me a much lo...It was VERY overwhelming, and it took me a much longer time to write the book than it normally does. I think the next time will go quicker. But at the same time, it was such a fun storyworld that I (mostly) didn't mind how long everything was taking.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-35863901584603747722014-12-08T14:09:28.451-06:002014-12-08T14:09:28.451-06:00That's SO tough to know. That's when criti...That's SO tough to know. That's when critique partners can be super helpful!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-88190686708224887342014-12-08T14:08:26.062-06:002014-12-08T14:08:26.062-06:00A steampunk murder mystery sounds really fun!A steampunk murder mystery sounds really fun!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-58201654997345180072014-12-08T14:07:59.784-06:002014-12-08T14:07:59.784-06:00I think a mystery would be tough for NaNo. I know ...I think a mystery would be tough for NaNo. I know I did a lot of sitting and pondering along the way.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-66776948106194882272014-12-08T14:07:29.689-06:002014-12-08T14:07:29.689-06:00I'm hoping it'll help keep me organized be...I'm hoping it'll help keep me organized better next time!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-21529465170123740042014-12-08T14:07:04.643-06:002014-12-08T14:07:04.643-06:00I wish I would have done the timeline thing from t...I wish I would have done the timeline thing from the beginning. So simple, but so helpful. Next time, right?Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7747540438464545642014-12-08T14:06:30.286-06:002014-12-08T14:06:30.286-06:00I love when it works out like that :)I love when it works out like that :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-15558759679527166632014-12-08T14:06:07.885-06:002014-12-08T14:06:07.885-06:00It's such a simple tool, but it's SO handy...It's such a simple tool, but it's SO handy. And congratulations on being so close to finishing your first draft! How awesome!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-19156631105027422672014-12-08T14:05:32.306-06:002014-12-08T14:05:32.306-06:00Which makes for the best bad guys, I think!Which makes for the best bad guys, I think!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-38726539365411712542014-12-08T13:05:20.987-06:002014-12-08T13:05:20.987-06:00The story I'm writing at the moment has a majo...The story I'm writing at the moment has a major mystery plot thread. I also had no idea who my villain was at first, or why they were doing what they did - my first draft was pretty bad in that respect! But since then I've figured that out, and now it's just a matter of making sure I plant my clues right.<br />Thanks for the useful article!Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28467352374077737942014-12-08T12:17:02.483-06:002014-12-08T12:17:02.483-06:00Thanks so much! So that's the mystery behind w...Thanks so much! So that's the mystery behind writing a mystery! I love mystery (crime fic) a lot and always marvel about how the author writes the plot so superbly...it's cool to know that there's actually a way to it!mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251168623940451456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-80339150087820384502014-12-08T11:16:19.071-06:002014-12-08T11:16:19.071-06:00I don't think I'm ever going to write a my...I don't think I'm ever going to write a mystery, but this will be helpful if I do :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781882439096700951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-58058780428742675312014-12-08T11:14:40.825-06:002014-12-08T11:14:40.825-06:00Thank you so much for answering my question. I hav...Thank you so much for answering my question. I have an idea for a mystery that takes place during World War II and since like you I've never written a historical or a mystery before, the whole idea is really daunting. This post helps a lot, though. I can see how useful a timeline would be for a mystery, especially because it could really help for foreshadowing. I really need to work on my villain-creating as well, so these are good tips to work off of. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com