{"id":14867,"date":"2020-01-18T20:57:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-18T20:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/?p=14867"},"modified":"2022-03-24T20:08:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T20:08:29","slug":"how-to-write-a-mystery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-a-mystery\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Mystery (from the author of 16 books!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever tried your hand at crafting a mystery, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s not the easiest thing to do. It\u2019s not rocket science, of course, but it still takes effort, planning, and understanding what needs to happen and when. That\u2019s probably why the mystery genre is considered a difficult one to write in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image4-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"keys to writing in the mystery genre\" class=\"wp-image-14868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image4-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image4-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image4-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image4-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image4-1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider this article your crash course on <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-writing\/\">how to write<\/a> a mystery. After all, it would take more than one post to perfect the art of writing mysteries&#8211;by the way, point me to the person who\u2019s done that apart from Agatha Christie or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But, there are simple things <em>you must get right<\/em>\u00a0if you want to provide a satisfying read for mystery lovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-in-this-article-you-will-learn\"><strong>In this article, you will learn:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>How to pick an antagonist.<\/li><li>Why motivations are important in mysteries.<\/li><li>What red herrings are and how to use them.<\/li><li>How to intertwine your main plot with your side plot.<\/li><li>What not to do in a mystery.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-step-1-craft-suspicious-characters\" data-level=\"2\">Step 1: Craft Suspicious Characters<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-your-protagonist-must-have\" data-level=\"3\">Your protagonist must have:<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-steps-for-crafting-your-cast-of-suspicious-characters\" data-level=\"3\">The steps for crafting your cast of suspicious characters:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-2-decide-on-who-s-dying-why-and-how\" data-level=\"2\">Step 2: Decide on Who\u2019s Dying, Why and How<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-actionable-steps\" data-level=\"3\">Actionable steps:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-3-pick-an-external-conflict\" data-level=\"2\">Step 3: Pick an External Conflict<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-actionable-steps-1\" data-level=\"3\">Actionable steps:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-4-write-up-a-list-of-clues\" data-level=\"2\">Step 4: Write up a List of Clues<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-actionable-steps-2\" data-level=\"3\">Actionable steps:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-5-outline-your-story\" data-level=\"2\">Step 5: Outline Your Story<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-the-basic-idea-is-to-note-down-the-following\" data-level=\"3\">The basic idea is to note down the following:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-bonus-step-6-mystery-don-ts\" data-level=\"2\">Bonus Step 6: Mystery Don'ts<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-here-are-a-few-mystery-don-ts-to-bear-in-mind-when-writing-your-story\" data-level=\"3\">Here are a few mystery don\u2019ts to bear in mind when writing your story.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-conclusion-how-to-write-a-mystery\" data-level=\"2\">Conclusion: How to Write a Mystery<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> I\u2019m primarily a cozy mystery author, so I\u2019ll be framing this around that genre, but the basic techniques provided here will work for other sub-genres too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-craft-suspicious-characters\">Step 1: Craft Suspicious Characters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The basics of crafting an interesting character in any story is just about the same. In <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-faster\/\">learning how to write<\/a> a mystery, the difference is you get to make them suspicious. And that\u2019s fun. Mystery and suspense are based on the unknown and on potential. The kind of potential that the friendly old lady down the street has to murder her next door neighbor\u2026 and all over a recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Never underestimate the ability of a human being to do the worst to get what they want. That sounds negative, sure, but that\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/types-of-characters\/\">type of attitude you\u2019ll use when crafting your characters<\/a>. In your mystery, you want all of your characters to have a hint of mystery and suspicion. (i.e. you want to give them traits that make them seem suspicious to the reader.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After all, if your antagonist, the murderer, is the only suspicious-seeming character or even the only innocent-seeming character, your reader will figure out whodunit, right away. The best emails and reviews I get from readers are always ones that say something along the lines of, \u201cI didn\u2019t figure it out until the end!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only character who won\u2019t be suspicious is your main character. And you should follow the same steps you would for character creation for any other protagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-your-protagonist-must-have\">Your protagonist must have:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>A conflict and stakes.<\/strong> Jessica is recently divorced and doesn\u2019t want to trust anyone&#8211;she\u2019s focusing on her little bakery in the new small town she\u2019s moved to. But when one of her customers drops dead after eating a donut in her store, Jessica\u2019s bakery might be in trouble. If Jessica doesn\u2019t open up, she\u2019ll never solve the murder and saved her bakery.<\/li><li><strong>A goal.<\/strong> Jessica now wants to overcome her internal conflict of keeping to herself as she uncovers the truth about the mystery by liaising with the other people of the town.<\/li><li><strong>A growth arc.<\/strong> Jessica overcomes her conflict by the end of the book. She\u2019s starting to fit into the town. She\u2019s also solved the murder mystery with lots of hiccups along the way.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The fun part comes next. You get to craft the cast of suspicious characters, all of whom might just have killed the victim. Or they may have had a reason to do so to get back at our protagonist, Jessica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-steps-for-crafting-your-cast-of-suspicious-characters\">The steps for crafting your cast of suspicious characters:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/character-development\/\">Write a list of characters<\/a> you want to include. Make it varied and interesting. From the granny down the street to the enemy baker across the road who\u2019s just opened up shop.<\/li><li>Give each of them a minor goal. Granny\u2019s goal is to get the secret donut recipe from Jessica. She wants it because she\u2019s planning on opening a shop of her own.<\/li><li>Give each of them a flaw. Her flaw is she\u2019s duplicitous. She\u2019s a lovely woman, but she\u2019s got a sordid history&#8211;including a rap sheet for theft. She\u2019s lived a hard life and wants to follow her true passion for baking.<\/li><li>Give each of them an enemy. Granny\u2019s enemy is the new baker in town who wants the recipe too.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>As you do this for each character, you\u2019ll start crafting motivations for murder. It could be that Granny is the murderer, or that it\u2019s the new baker across the street. Or it could be someone else. Don\u2019t be shy about creating a subplot that runs alongside the main plot. Maybe, Granny\u2019s not involved in the murder at all. But she sure seems suspicious, and she\u2019s definitely been snooping around the bakery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-decide-on-who-s-dying-why-and-how\">Step 2: Decide on Who\u2019s Dying, Why and How<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image1-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"writing mystery novels\" class=\"wp-image-14869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image1-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image1-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image1-1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Probably one of the most important steps in learning how to write a mystery is deciding who\u2019s going to kick the bucket. Or have their bucket kicked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In cozy mysteries, the victim is usually someone who is hated by all in the small town. This serves to complicate things for your sleuth&#8211;they\u2019ll have loads of people to suspect and investigate during the course of the unraveling mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But you don\u2019t have to stick to that. You can pick anyone in your list of characters to become the victim. You just have to have a clear idea as to why. What part of their conflict or goal makes them the perfect target?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you connect your characters and their motivations. You can make the victim innocent of misdeeds or hateful and mean. Perhaps, they\u2019ve been stalking their ex-wife or husband? The ex-wife\u2019s new partner takes offense to this and murders them. Naturally, you\u2019ll write down all of this information, but you won\u2019t divulge it all upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How the victim is murdered is important too. You can use the murder weapon as a clue for solving the mystery, whether it\u2019s a gun, a poison, a knife or a blunt option. However, make sure to do your research on your chosen weapon. Readers are sticklers for certain things in mystery&#8211;you\u2019ll get away with a sleuth who interferes in police work, but you won\u2019t with a poison that doesn\u2019t have the correct side-effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, you must have a reason for why the victim is killed and how they\u2019re killed, when and where. Kind of like writing Clue. You note all of this down, and intertwine the information into your story by dropping clues to your protagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-actionable-steps\">Actionable steps:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Pick your victim.<\/li><li>Note down why they were killed, and connect them with several suspicious characters with reasons why those characters may have wanted to kill the victim.<\/li><li>Select a murder weapon and research it.<\/li><li>Give certain characters access to the murder weapon. (i.e. A chemist has access to certain medicines, but so does his assistant or the receptionist who may have broken into his private store.)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"standard-cta testimonial nohover invert-mobile\" id=\"cta-block_60a2b73018237\">\r\n    <div class=\"cta-inner row\">\r\n        \r\n        <div class=\"cta-body col-md-8\" style=\"text-align:center;\">  \r\n                            <a class=\"cta-heading\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/rocket-in-content\" alt=\"Get Publisher Rocket Now!\">\r\n                            <h3>Better Keywords &#038; Categories Fast<\/h3>\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                        \r\n            <p>See why over 47,000+ authors and publishing companies use and love Rocket to help them sell more books.<\/p>\n            <a class=\"offer-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/rocket-in-content\" alt=\"Get Publisher Rocket Now!\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Get Publisher Rocket Now!<\/a>        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n            <div class=\"cta-media col-md-4\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"cta-media-inner\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/rocket-in-content\" alt=\"Get Publisher Rocket Now!\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">                        \r\n                        \r\n                        \r\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Mockup-copy.png\" alt=\"Mockup copy\" height=\"388\" width=\"453\">\r\n                        \r\n                        <\/a>                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-pick-an-external-conflict\">Step 3: Pick an External Conflict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is kind of an optional step. It depends on how long your mystery is going to be. In cozy mystery, books usually range <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/words-per-page\/\">from 20,000 words<\/a> to 70,000. If you\u2019re writing a longer story, you\u2019ll need more intrigue, more conflict, and more plot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why I\u2019ll generally pick out an extra external conflict to include in the story. Say we use Jessica\u2019s bakery as an external conflict&#8211;she\u2019s being stolen from and things have been going missing in her apartment above the store. What could it mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The theft and the murder can be unrelated, or they can be part of the same motivation for the death of the victim. That\u2019s up to you to decide. You can include several sub-plots for characters who Jessica is friends with too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps, her new friend is being stalked, or has recently come into money and some of it has gone missing. Or she\u2019s just broken up with an ex-boyfriend, who keeps threatening revenge on the bakery. All of these subplots add up to equal little clues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trick is to make the clues of one subplot connect with the main murder mystery. For example, Jessica is suspicious of the theft in her store, and when someone breaks in and steals her journal, she\u2019s not sure if it\u2019s the thief or the murderer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important to note:<\/strong> you don\u2019t have to tie off every subplot with a neat ending as you close the book. You can leave some of them open for further exploration in the series. But, you should always give the murder mystery a satisfying conclusion, and your protagonist resolution of their current conflict or goal. Jessica has saved her bakery, she throws a party with her friends afterward to celebrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-actionable-steps-1\">Actionable steps:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Write up a list of external conflicts you want to use in your story and how they connect to each character.<\/li><li>Pare the list down to one or two subplots.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-write-up-a-list-of-clues\">Step 4: Write up a List of Clues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image3-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"building suspense in a mystery\" class=\"wp-image-14870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image3-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image3-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image3-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image3-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/image3-1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another fun step!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, you get to write down all the clues that pertain both to your subplot and your main plot. You\u2019ll do this by identifying the crime scene and the clues that are already present there. Since you have the inside edge&#8211;you know why your victim was killed and by whom&#8211;you can plant evidence over the course of the story that will redirect your protagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also plant false evidence, or clues that make it seem like someone else commited the murder. These are called \u2018red herrings\u2019 \u2014 and they must be believable. All your clues and red herrings have to make sense, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Motivations and clues tie in with each other. Granny wants to get into Jessica\u2019s bakery, so it would make sense that Jessica would walk in on Granny rummaging through her things. Granny can make an excuse, but Jessica will have her suspicions&#8211;is Granny the murderer? We know Granny isn\u2019t, but Jessica doesn\u2019t&#8211;that\u2019s a red herring that makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And now, because Jessica believes that Granny might have something to do with the murder, she\u2019ll start following her and unraveling more of the mystery that is Granny\u2019s motivation. Ultimately, she\u2019ll hit a brick wall when she realizes that Granny can\u2019t possibly have commited the murder\u2026 until Granny gives her another clue that leads Jessica onto the next suspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-actionable-steps-2\">Actionable steps:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Write down a list of clues that connect the characters to the crime scene or make them suspicious.<\/li><li>Organize the clues in the order you want them to happen. (i.e. Jessica finding Granny in the bakery after hours. Jessica follows Granny and finds her meeting with Jessica\u2019s enemy etc.)<\/li><li>The list doesn\u2019t have to be exhaustive, but it must make sense and tie into your murder and sub-plots.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-outline-your-story\">Step 5: Outline Your Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m not going to go into the outlining process in full here because that would take another article\u2019s worth (and more) of information. However, if you\u2019ve followed the steps above, you\u2019re halfway there. You just need to organize your clues into an events list, and then have your protagonist take action throughout the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at our example of Jessica and her bakery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-basic-idea-is-to-note-down-the-following\">The basic idea is to note down the following:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Jessica\u2019s conflict and goal.<\/li><li>Her external conflict.<\/li><li>An events list of what happens.<\/li><li>A short scene or chapter-by-chapter breakdown.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>We already have Jessica\u2019s conflict and goal, as well as her external conflict. Now, we need an events list that ties in with all of the above. An events list is a short breakdown of what happens over the course of the three-act story. The events are important plot points that drive the mystery forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>The inciting event.<\/strong> This is what starts off your entire mystery. Jessica\u2019s customer drops dead after tasting her cupcake.<\/li><li><strong>The first act climax.<\/strong> Here, Jessica believes she\u2019s closer than ever to solving the mystery&#8211;thus casting her back into her comfy \u2018not trusting anyone zone.\u2019 Jessica finds a clue that leads her to believe Granny is the murderer.<\/li><li><strong>The midpoint reversal.<\/strong> At this point, your character\u2019s goal is flipped. Where Jessica didn\u2019t want to trust anyone before, now she has to. Jessica snoops in a suspect\u2019s house and gets caught. She\u2019s arrested and has to rely on her friend to bail her out.<\/li><li><strong>The second act climax.<\/strong> Things get even worse. Jessica is completely stumped. She\u2019s been reprimanded and her bakery is no longer popular because of the suspicion that she\u2019s murdered the victim. At the end of this period of sadness, Jessica will discover or connect two clues together that she hadn\u2019t before. Now, she really knows who did it.<\/li><li><strong>Climax.<\/strong> Here comes the building action and climax of the plot as Jessica faces off against the real murderer.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a denouement&#8211;a resolution&#8211;as well, where Jessica and her friends celebrate their victory. Jessica will have resolved her conflict. She now loves the town and its people, and trusts her friend. Her bakery is also doing fine again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After deciding on your events, you\u2019ll pepper them with your clues and find unique ways to solve the mystery and tie the subplots into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bonus-step-6-mystery-don-ts\">Bonus Step 6: Mystery Don'ts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t fall into the trap of relying on easy fixes in mystery stories. The readers in this genre are voracious, and they enjoy being challenged. They want you to keep them guessing until the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-here-are-a-few-mystery-don-ts-to-bear-in-mind-when-writing-your-story\"><strong>Here are a few mystery don\u2019ts to bear in mind when writing your story.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Don\u2019t make it too obvious. Readers don\u2019t want to figure out who did it in the first few chapters. They\u2019ll stop reading the book.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t bore your reader. Don\u2019t use too many unnecessary details or backstory elements that don\u2019t matter. Intrigue is the key. Less is more.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t provide too much information. You want to pepper in those clues, not have two per chapter \u2014 otherwise you\u2019ll overwhelm your reader with information, some of which doesn\u2019t pertain to the murder mystery.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t provide too little information. You don\u2019t want your reader to feel cheated. Give them enough clues to try to work out the mystery by themselves, but be clever about it. You don\u2019t actually want them to solve it before you do.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t murder someone too late. Murder mysteries need to have a dead body somewhere near the beginning of the story. It doesn\u2019t have to be in the first chapter, but you\u2019ll need it somewhere close to the front of the book. Foreshadowing is your friend.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion-how-to-write-a-mystery\">Conclusion: How to Write a Mystery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these steps, and you\u2019re on your way to crafting a mystery that will keep readers turning pages. Ultimately, you\u2019ll need to read mysteries to write them&#8211;there are loads of books out there in your genre that will give you an idea of how to go about crafting the mystery element of the story. Have fun!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning how to write a mystery takes effort, planning, and understanding what needs to happen and when. But with these steps, you can learn how. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":17072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[3870],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Write a Mystery (from the author of 16 books!)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learning how to write a mystery takes effort, planning, and understanding what needs to happen and when. 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