Writing and Editing Mystery Fiction

From the cult-favorite “whodunits” to the dystopian fiction category that has been largely popular over the past two decades, elements of the mystery genre can be found on all bookshelves. There are many reasons why all readers can appreciate a good mystery novel; it keeps you on the edge of your seat, the need to uncover all the strands of a mystery keeps you up until the book is finished, and it is a classic element of good storytelling—it captivates readers by forcing them to ask “What happens next?!” There is no other genre quite like the mystery genre.

Furthermore, in some countries such as the UK, it has become the most widely read fiction genre. Hence, the market seems to share the sentiment that there is always room for a good mystery. However, this genre, above all others, is strictly defined by its conventions. Unlike the fantasy, science fiction, or romance genres, the modern mystery genre is very much bound by a set of rules readers expect to be followed, and within this confined set of rules, readers are still expected to shock and surprise the reader.

Nothing both irritates and pleases a seasoned mystery reader like an ending they didn’t see coming, and it is becoming increasingly harder to surprise readers. To ensure your mysteries can hold up and remain mysteries, there is no better strategy than enlisting the help of the most prolific readers; specifically, there is no resource more valuable than the eyes of a seasoned editor.

THE HISTORY OF MYSTERY

The mystery genre is extremely well liked. They spark the imagination, and they simultaneously foster logical thinking. The origins of the modern history novel in English are attributed to the early-19th century. Specifically, Edgar Allan Poe is believed to be an influential early writer of detective fiction. With the publication of Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue, the trope of the mystery novel detective was developed, and with it, the invention of an entirely new genre. Although stories involving crimes, murders, and death had existed long before Poe, it was Poe’s work that ushered in the “whodunnit” category involving a central protagonist gathering clues, working the case, and solving the crime.

The popularity of the modern mystery novel can also be attributed to pulp fiction magazines that were prolific in the 1930s and 40s. The mystery genre worked extremely well in a serialized manner as readers would be encouraged to pick up a new issue of the magazine every week to find out what was happening to their favorite characters. The mystery genre has become even more prolific with the advent of television and movies.

TYPES OF MYSTERY NOVELS

There are many types of mystery novels. Like many genres, mystery novels are either defined as fiction or nonfiction. Within the category of fiction mysteries, the mystery genre itself can overlap with many other genres, including science fiction, romance, fantasy, horror, thriller, crime, and historical fiction. In the nonfiction mystery category, these can include memoirs, historical accounts of true events, published diaries, conspiracy theories, or accounts of haunted houses/ghosts. The defining difference between fiction and non-fiction mystery is that works of fiction always end with a satisfying resolution; the reader gets to find out who really dun it!

In non-fiction works, the facts and details are outlined, but readers are often left unsatisfied; they are left asking, “Who killed JFK? Why did Princess Diana die? Is Bigfoot real? How were the pyramids really made?”

The fiction mystery genre can be further subdivided into several categories:

Detective novels center around a main protagonist (i.e. the infamous Sherlock Holmes) who undertakes an investigation to discover the truth about a crime or death.

Cozy or soft-boiled mysteries are mystery novels that contain no profanity, sex, or violence and therefore cater to younger audiences. They overlap with detective novels in that they usually center around a protagonist who is working to solve a mystery.

Hardboiled mysteries feature sex, violence, or profanity at the forefront of the work, and these themes are more central to the plot.

Capers or heists are your Ocean movie-type plots; these stories are told not from the perspective of the good guy working to solve a crime but from the perspectives of the criminals. These works reveal all the tricks criminal use to pull of a heist and has readers hoping they succeed.

Police procedural, legal, and medical mysteries all overlap in that the protagonist is usually a member of the law-abiding side of the crime coin.

WRITING A MYSTERY NOVEL

While not all mystery novels conform to the following procedure, this is the most widely used structure and is seen in many works. Hence, adopting the following procedure is probably a good idea if you are unsure where to start. Then, you could begin travelling outside of these guidelines to present a fresh new take on the classic structure.

Mysteries begin with the presentation of the crime or event that has already taken place. This central mystery must not be easily solved; it must be linked to a variety of possibilities as to how it could have taken place and who could have done it.

Then, the protagonist begins the investigation. We are then introduced to the principle characters and how the protagonist has come to hear of the crime.

Most mystery novels have a good plot twist; readers are meant to be shocked by this twist, and while many good writers will leave clues and foreshadow what might happen, this twist should be surprising for the reader.

The protagonist will eventually figure out, usually in a moment of unparalleled brilliance, the breakthrough. Through the protagonist’s analysis, interviewing, investigation, and deductions, the protagonist will connect the dots and find that last piece of the puzzle necessary to determine the culprit.

For fiction mysteries, and like all good novels, we end with a good and satisfying conclusion: the mystery is solved, the culprit is caught, and the detective gets the girl, or however the author decides to end the novel.

AVOIDING UN-THRILLING WRITING

Apart from the obvious tips, such as reading a lot of works from the genre and getting a feel for the conventions, there are several that seasoned editors might share with you. These can be seen below.

Chances are, if you are attempting to write a mystery novel, you have already been an avid reader of the genre for most of your life. You love good detective work, you love it when your mind is twisted, and you have a curios streak that can’t be put out. However, the structure in which mysteries are written wouldn’t inform you of this one extremely valuable tidbit of advice: you must put on your thinking cap and carefully plan out every detail of the crime, even details that you might not even mention in the book itself, before you even begin writing.

In other words, map out the exact sequence of events down to the most minute detail. If possible, even construct a sociogram—you’ll look maybe a little psycho and obsessed, but you’ll end up with a deliciously entertaining story.

Once you know every detail of the major crime, break down the major players in the novel: who did what? How can the bad guys be taken down? Do they have any relation to the main character? Furthermore, break down ways in which clues can be discovered by the protagonist. Pro tip: split your good guys and bad guys into teams, and this can be a good segue into thinking about maybe if there are even neutral parties or traitors in the mix.

This can make it easier for you to develop a convincing plot twist or multiple scenarios as to who the ultimate suspect might be.

All good novel writing involves an excellent cast of characters; you must develop your characters, and specifically in mystery writing, determine how and why they might have a certain set of skills. Their backgrounds must be clear and believable; sure, they can be the uncommon genius, but you must be able to explain their brilliance. Take the science of deduction in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, for example. Sherlock is a genius; no one can do what he can do, but yet, his thinking is logical and methodological.

His deductions are derived from a clear understanding of the world around him, and the connections between one step and another are clear.

Next, we must discuss setting, which is extremely important in the mystery genre because the setting is where you will be able to stage not only the crime in question, but most of your clues. It is important to avoid clichés, but it is also important for you to use audiovisual cues to create a mood of suspense. For example, you might decide to stage a murder in the middle of the day to avoid the trope that murders only happen at night, but you might decide to set a mood for the murder by bringing in “a chill in the air” or “a prickling sensation of being watched.” Interesting locations often contribute to the creation of better mystery novels.

A good mystery builds suspense off the initial revelation of the crime by feeding readers tidbits of information along the way. Readers crave information and clues they can use to feed their own thoughts. Remember: your readers are more like Sherlock Holmes than you think; their thoughts are spurred by the information you provide in the story.

GETTING YOUR WORK PUBLISHED

So, you’ve read and applied all my tips! What can you do now to ensure your thrilling story gets published? There’s one simple answer: find an editor! Not only will your work be improved both grammatically, structurally, and stylistically, you can also find a vetted professional to tell you if your whodunit is really as surprising as you think it is. Editors can tell you if your protagonist needs some more development or if your criminal is obvious. Either way, your editor will be able to help you make your mysterious novel even more mysterious and captivating.