Writing a mystery story

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Writing a mystery story

1 The main character

The best way to create a main character is to base it on yourself! Pick out a few of your own physical characteristics and personality traits that would work well for the protagonist. Here are some characteristics to consider: Describe your body size and shape, your hair and eye color, and any other physical characteristic that is unique to you. For example your main character might be tall and slim, with short brown hair, green eyes, lots of freckles, and dimpled cheeks.Dress your character in your favorite clothes. For example, you might have him wear baggy jeans and a logo T-shirt, or have her wear khaki pants and a tank top. 

 

1 The main character

List your favorite subjects in school and what you're especially good at. For example, your character could be good in math, which helps her figure out a puzzle. Or your character could be a great soccer player, which makes him good at running away from bad guys.List the things you're not so good at and include them in your character's makeup. For example, if you're not good at science, maybe your character does chemistry experiments that are always going wrong. If you're not so good at paying attention in school, maybe your character misses something important.

1 The main character

But you can also use your imagination and think of a main character who is completely different from you.

Describe this lady in your own words. Use about 20 words.

Describe this lady in 20 words.

Create a setting

- Name something your character sees, such as her messy desk, the science charts on the wall, or the clock that never seems to move fast enough. In that messy desk, your character might find a clue?

- Name something your character hears, such as the ticking of the clock, the clicking of the teacher's pen, or the whispers of the kids sitting behind you. Maybe the whispers are about something mysterious in the classroom closet?

- Name something your character smells, such as the bologna sandwich in her desk or the perfume coming from the teacher. Inside that sandwich there might be a strange note?

Create a setting

- Name something your character feels, such as the breeze coming from the open classroom window, or your hair being pulled by the student behind you. Maybe there's something outside the window that seems puzzling?

- Name something your character tastes, such as gum that's lost its flavor, or chalk dust from all the scribblings on the blackboard. That gum could come in handy when you need to hide a note under your desk?

Describe a setting

Look at this picture. Your main character enters this room. Describe the room in 25 words.

Describe the room.

Create a mystery

 Your character needs something mysterious to happen so he can solve the puzzle. For example, the note in the bologna sandwich might be a clue about the missing lunchboxes in the classroom closet. Or the whisperers behind you might be talking about the strange thing outside the window. Here are some puzzles to get you thinking:

- Something has been stolen from the classroom. - Something is missing from your desk.

- Something strange is found on the playground. - Someone has disappeared from the school.

- Someone is sending you strange notes. - Something is wrong with the teacher--she's acting weird.

- Something is hidden in the classroom closet.

Build up tension

- Have the main character try to solve the puzzle, get close, then fail a couple of times before he finally finds the correct solution. - Have the main character get into trouble and have a hard time getting out of it. - Have the main character's weakness interfere with solving the puzzle, such as a fear of the dark. - Have several more things become stolen or lost. - Have more mysterious notes arrive with more clues. - Have the adults not believe the main character when he's trying to tell them about the mystery, so he has to solve it himself or with his friends.

Conclusion

The main character saves someone.

The main character figures out the puzzle and saves the day.

The main character saves herself and is changed by her courage.

The main character reveals something surprising about the puzzle that no one expected.

The main character overcomes obstacles, such as his fears, to solve the puzzle.

The main character proves himself when he's really in trouble.

Ending

The end of the story should surprise the reader.

https:

Describe the main character in the short story. Both physically and in behaviour.

What is the setting?

Did the writer manage to surprise you?

00:34

Elements in a mystery

1 Keep the reader in suspense

01:06

Elements in a mystery

1 Keep the reader in suspense

2 Do not reveal the answer too soon, keep your audience guessing

01:37

Elements in a mystery: techniques

1 Limit the point of view

02:16

Elements in a mystery: techniques

1 Limit the point of view

2 Choose the right setting

02:52

Elements in a mystery: techniques

1 Limit the point of view

2 Choose the right setting

3 Play with style and form

03:32

Elements in a mystery: techniques

1 Limit the point of view

2 Choose the right setting

3 Play with style and form

4 Use dramatic irony

04:19

Elements in a mystery: techniques

1 Limit the point of view

2 Choose the right setting

3 Play with style and form

4 Use dramatic irony

5 Use cliffhangers

Reading a short mystery

You are going to read Wish you were here by Frank Jones.

doryanelliott.weebly.com

Looking at the story

We are going to check if the writer of this story worked according to the principles explained before.

Did the writer use a limited point of view?

Is the setting important in this story?

Did the writer play with style and form?

Did the writer use dramatic irony?

Was there a cliffhanger?

Writing your own short story

You are going to write your own short story now. Try to use the techniques you have been shown. 

Look at the rubric in Moodle to see how your work will be judged.

Good luck