Write a Mystery 101: Choose Your Genre

In episode 238, “Write a Mystery 101: Choose Your Genre,” Meredith Curtis starts you on your storytelling journey. So, you’ve decided to write your own mystery. Congrats! What a fun project. Let’s start with what kind of mystery you want to write. Are their different kinds of mysteries? Yes! Discover which one appeals to you, and start on your way to creating your own Who-Dun-It.

 

 

 

 

 

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Show Notes

Mom, Aunt Shirley, Nancy Drew, Meg, Trixie Belden, Agatha Christie.

What I love about mysteries.

Why I started writing them/high school English with Rose

Mystery Storyline Basics

Crime committed, usually a murder. Clues & red herrings followed by detective & reader who try their hardest to guess the perpetrator. At end, crime is punished.

Christian Worldview

We live in a fallen world, but God is Just. Justice.

God is a mystery writer, leaving clues about Jesus throughout the OT.

Genres of Mysteries Police Procedural

Usually a team, or partners, work together to solve a case. Include forensics, interviews, etc.

CSI, Blue Bloods, NCIS,

(Vintage) Dragnet, Adam 12, Hawaii 5-0

Police Detective

Focus on 1 lead Detective, with helpers, who solves the case. May have power struggle with other officers.

(Vintage) Columbo, Inspector Morse, Dick Tracy, Detective Chief-Inspector Roderick Alleyn, Walker Texas Ranger,

Private Investigator

Not a police officer but can be a retired officer. Relationship with official police can be good or bad. Solves the case with traditional and unique methods.

(Vintage) Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Magnum PI, Monk, Psych, Remington Steel, Tommy & Tuppence Beresford, Canon,

Spies

Can be FBI, CIA, MI6, Naval Intelligence, etc.

Jack Ryan, Agents of Shield, Numb3rs

(Vintage) Scarecrow & Mrs. King, MacGyver, It Takes a Thief, The Wild, Wild West, Mission Impossible,

Lawyer

Client is accused of murder or other crime. Lawyer has to figure out who the actual perpetrator is.

(Vintage) Perry Mason, Matlock

Amateur Sleuth

Usually stumbles into a case and follows clues to solve case when officials cannot. Good or bad relationship with police. Has a day job.

Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, Murder She Wrote, Miss Marple, Father Brown, Sister Boniface, Rosemary & Thyme, Lord Peter Wimsey

Cozy Mystery

Amateur sleuth, focus on following clues, see detective’s personal life, no profanity, usually romance but no romantically private scenes, conversation-focused rather than action focused.

Suggestion

Watch some of these shows. Read books in different genres. Vintage is better because…

What kind of mystery do you like best?

Choose Your Genre

• Lots of Action vs. Little Action
• Professional vs. Amateur
• Blood & Gore vs. Little Blood & Gore
• Conversation Interviews vs. Police Interrogation
• Lots of Forensic Clues vs. Motive Clues

Other Related Choices

• Historical, Future, or Present-Day (most are present-day)
• Point of View (third-person or first-person narrator)

For step-by-step help in creating your own murder mystery, grab your copy of Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing Volume II by Meredith Curtis

Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing Volume II by Meredith Curtis is a one-credit high school English course.

In Print: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Mystery-Literature-Writing-Homeschooling/dp/B0CMZNY8ZK/

 

Digital Copy: https://www.powerlineprod.com/shop/who-dun-it-murder-mystery-literature-writing-second-edition/

 

 

 

Next time, we’ll talk about creating your detective & sidekick. In later weeks, we’ll talk about clues & red herrings, creating suspects, classic who-dun-it plot, and more.

Maggie King Mysteries

Maggie & Matt King move to Hopeville, Virginia so Matt can go to seminary, studying to be a pastor. Maggie is a SAHM to Bethany (and more children to come) but finds time to stumble across dead bodies and unmask the murderer. Eventually, Maggie will homeschool her children and enjoy her role as a pastor’s wife. But, she doesn’t stop solving mysteries. Enjoy her adventures. Wholesome Christian Cozy Mysteries.

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