Notes:
The Verbivore references the dictionary definition of mystery which is “something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain” and “a question that needs answering.” Some synonyms are a puzzle, enigma, conundrum, riddle, secret, or unsolved problem.
Fable and the Verbivore referenced many different resources and articles to prepare for this conversation. Here are a few that they found helpful:
Vintage WD: Murder for Profit, Mystery Story Techniques Part 1 - https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/vintage-wd-murder-for-profit-mystery-story-techniques-part-1
Vintage WD: Murder for Profit, Mystery Story Techniques Part 2 - https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/vintage-wd-murder-for-profit-mystery-story-techniques-part-2
Masterclass - The 10 Essential Elements of a Mystery Story https://www.masterclass.com/articles/essential-elements-of-a-mystery-story
The Write Practice - How to Write a Mystery Novel - https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-write-a-mystery-novel/
The Verbivore references the YouTube channel Just Write’s video discussing how the Harry Potter novels serve as functional mysteries. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Y0NFHNhgg
The Verbivore mentions a trick to have two outlines to manage your mystery and another to manage all of the clues (real clues, false clues, pivotal clues) and what your suspects are up to at any given point in the novel. There are several resources that mentioned this practice, but the YouTube video “NANOWRIMO / How to Write a Murder Mystery” by Rae Sterling was the most helpful and concise.
Fable mentions the 3 elements of mystery as discribed by Save the Cat! They are:
1) The detective does not change, we do; yet he can be any kind of gumshoe — from pro to amateur to imaginary.
2) The secret of the case is so strong it overwhelms the worldly lures of money, sex, power, or fame. We gots to know! And so does the Whydunit hero.
3) Finally, the dark turn shows that in pursuit of the secret, the detective will break the rules, even his own — often ones he has relied on for years to keep him safe. The pull of the secret is too great.
The Verbivore references Rian Johnson’s subversion of the mystery genre in his movie Knives Out by purposefully adding in thriller elements and beats into his story. She doesn’t refernces details to keep from spoiling the movie, but there are several great YouTube videos that explore this melding of these story elements. Here are the links [Spoiler Alert]:
Behind the Curtain’s “How I Wrote Knives Out — Writing Advice from Rian Johnson” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd4XUCIqoFU
Just Write’s “How Knives Out Switches Genres (Twice)” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfF7-vJJBNY
Books Mentioned:
Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) by J.K. Rowling
Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries) by Agatha Christie
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need by Jessica Brody
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Movies Mentioned:
Knives Out - Written and Directed by Rian Johnson
Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
