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Book Review: How to Write a Damn Good Mystery
Posted on May 25th, 2009 No commentsBook review: How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished Manuscript
By James N. Frey
Like the title says, this is a ‘step-by-step’ guide.
I don’t actually write mysteries, but some of my stories have a mysterious thread within them. For example, The 15 Date Rule has a bit of a mystery in terms of a theft. In writing this story I had questions such as what is a true red herring? How do you create one? How do you deal with them? How do you create false leads without ticking off your reader–either by making it too obvious or by totally deceiving them? As I read through this book, I came across answers to my questions. I learned what is common practice, what works and what might not.
This book would be excellent for a beginning mystery writer who is looking for a methodical plan to follow or simply some ideas on how and where to start. If you don’t mind putting in a little hard work (brainstorming) on the front end, with Frey’s method, you will create a focused first draft that requires few plot overhauls after completion. Even writers who prefer a ‘seat of their pants’ method will find his methods helpful. Basically, Frey helps writers focus their thoughts in a productive way. He walks through how to create a good hero/heroine, a good murderer, a setting that will add to your story, as well as a step sheet which plots out any major obstacles the hero/heroine will encounter as they work towards reaching their goal (solving the murder). He also discusses different ways the hero/heroine can work towards gathering information–a random gatherer or a methodicial, clue-by-clue gatherer. And naturally, he provides how to wrap up your mystery in an entertaining way (none of that boring, sit down and reguritate everyone’s motives stuff).
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Dramatic Background
Posted on September 21st, 2008 No commentsI’m reading James Frey’s book, How to Write a Damn Good Mystery right now. Okay, not at this instant because I am blogging about it while I let the last chapter sink in. I like Frey’s books as they are such a nice, fast read. You are learning while laughing (and no, I’m not going to kill you with any of that silly, waaaaay overused ’LOL’ crap. It’s straight from the hip, anti-hyperbole headquarters around here. Mostly). Anyway, tonight I came across his idea that dramatic events besides the mystery should be happening in the background. In some ways the dramatic event will have an effect on the murder investigation that is central to the story and in other ways, it won’t. Either way it will add a sense of realism to your story. And realism is good.
(I’ve never been to an anti-war protest before, just a tuition hike protest. My shoulder was on the news.
I know, my fame astounds me too.)Being a writer of chick lit/romantic comedies (whatever you want to call them), I would argue that a dramatic background event could be used in any story, not just a mystery. The problem is, murder investigations are usually short lived and the timeframe covered in a mystery is rather short compared to other stories. His examples are short-term events, or events that you sure as heck hope will be short term, such as a hostage situation, political campaign, protest, etc). These work for stories that cover a short timeline. What about other stories? Stories that cover a longer period of time? I suppose you could have something dramatic going on.
The immediate example that came to mind was from one of Meg Cabot’s Heather Wells mysteries. There is a blizzard going on. It changes the setting in more than one way. The blizzard becomes a character, it becomes an accessory, it becomes an obstacle; it becomes more than fluffy stuff on the ground. Cool. Very cool. But what about non-mystery stories? Hmm. I think I’ll be keeping that in mind for future stories.
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I am an aspiring fiction writer (children's, women's and commercial) and an agented nonfiction writer. I am also a member, critiquer and site moderator over on AgentQueryConnect.com. And, I also blog with other fabulous writers at all stages of the writing game on From The Write Angle.
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