Easy Guide On How To Write A

Mysterious Story

1. Know the Difference between Mystery and Thriller

Mystery stories usually start with a crime at hand be it a murder, rape, kidnapping, etc. Whereas thriller stories establish a plot and eventually takes you to the main crime. In a thriller, the story revolves around if the main character can stop the crime from happening.

Read classic mystery novels like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne. While reading pay attention to the minutest of details from the plot, characters, location, era, appearances of the main characters, etc.

2. Read Mystery Books to Get More Mysterious Story Ideas

3. Give Words To Your Own Mysterious Story Idea

Remember, whether you are writing about a coldblooded murder or a kidnapping going wrong, the misdeed must at all be the epicentre of your story. You can then start with building a rough story around your story idea. Build the outline first by answering who, how, what and when.

Once you have decided on the crime of your story, look up some real-life instances that can give you an intricate idea about how such a crime takes place in real life.

4. Take Some Real-Life Inspiration

5. Character Building

You need to give equal focus to all the characters that will bring your story together. Your hero may be an amateur sleuth or the partner of the victim – his or her character has to be relatable and convincing for the readers. The hero is usually the eyes and ears for the reader to navigate through the story.

Lean a bit harder on the era and location in which your story is taking place. This is the sixth pillar of coming up with mysterious story ideas and also the most neglected one.

6. Emphasis On The Surrounding

7. Show More and Tell Less

The common characteristic of a great writer is he can make the story come live in the head of the reader. You need to try and get there.

For this take recourse to descriptive writing. Create your plot using descriptive writing so your reader himself can get clues and can explore.

You have 2-3 pages to win your reader. So, make the most of it. Your start point has to be intriguing enough for the reader to stay put and then unfold the mystery. Based on your storyline come up with the best opening. Once you have drafted it, share it with a few close friends and take their opinion as a reader.

8. Opening Plot Is Prime

9. Do Not Make It Obvious – Keep Enough Twists

Red herrings are the wrong hints that are present in the story that can make the reader believe as he or she has almost solved the crime. These misdirections are engaging and fun. Having many wrong leads should be at the top tier of the mysterious story ideas.

The last and the most important tip about writing mystery is to know that seldom you will get it right on the first go.

So, the advice here is to have as many drafts as possible. Keep rewriting your plots and do not stop until you are fully contented.

10. Rewrite

Do read the fill article for more details…

Thank You