tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post1236298954923623710..comments2024-03-28T05:34:42.670-05:00Comments on MAKE MINE MYSTERY: Planting the CluesMorgan Mandelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-79060012954728487762009-05-28T12:24:49.160-05:002009-05-28T12:24:49.160-05:00I use a little from all of your examples - some cl...I use a little from all of your examples - some clues seem really obvious as to where they go when I'm writing. Others get added at the end when I'm finding glaring holes. And still others pop up like little surprise 'Easter eggs' in DVD specials extras menus!Dana Fredstihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12802936840624512415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-90859476487001765222009-05-27T21:27:06.760-05:002009-05-27T21:27:06.760-05:00That's interesting how villains "appear" for some ...That's interesting how villains "appear" for some of us. I always know my villain ahead of time, but it's also fun to try and make another character a really viable choice for the readers as well. Keep the fun of figuring it out up for them.Libby McKinmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00103167821798683594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-41018295947341549732009-05-27T20:37:08.317-05:002009-05-27T20:37:08.317-05:00My "red herrings" just seem to evolve from the plo...My "red herrings" just seem to evolve from the plot, and I have no idea where it's going until my characters show me. I'm one of those writers who usually doesn't know who the killer is until the third quarter of the book.Jean Henry Meadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08146960738692672013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-67348063551482464392009-05-27T20:06:58.084-05:002009-05-27T20:06:58.084-05:00I like to know my villain and the ending before wr...I like to know my villain and the ending before writing so I can plant clues. But I know people who write the book and say they don't know who the "killer" is until the very end. <br /><br />Helen<br /><A HREF="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Straight From Hel</A>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-85345699510053414712009-05-27T20:05:49.366-05:002009-05-27T20:05:49.366-05:00I probably shouldn't say this, but I like to plant...I probably shouldn't say this, but I like to plant them early, have them overlooked and become significant later.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01368973223808495975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-71719736820296114722009-05-27T18:57:56.364-05:002009-05-27T18:57:56.364-05:00Maggi, research is so key! I do my research AND ta...Maggi, research is so key! I do my research AND talk to experts in the field as well. Get the "real world" take on things.Libby McKinmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00103167821798683594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-62107882036001926822009-05-27T18:56:59.170-05:002009-05-27T18:56:59.170-05:00Yes, Elizabeth, I agree -- it's so hard to hit tha...Yes, Elizabeth, I agree -- it's so hard to hit that right balance.Libby McKinmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00103167821798683594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-9200112328352088582009-05-27T18:55:16.196-05:002009-05-27T18:55:16.196-05:00It's also important to research thoroughly even in...It's also important to research thoroughly even in fiction. You can't expect a reader to suspend belief if there are glaring mistakes in your story.<br />Maggi<br />www.maggiandersenauthor.com<br />CASEY'S LUCK, a mystery/romance/suspense available from Wild Child Publishing.Maggi Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15430261880092452319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-18480485590762743542009-05-27T17:52:05.656-05:002009-05-27T17:52:05.656-05:00I think planting clues is the most challenging par...I think planting clues is the most challenging part for me. Readers are so savvy these days; I don't want the clues to be so easy that they figure out the murderer's identity right away, but don't want the trail to be so difficult that they lose interest. I come up with clues that point the finger at each suspect. At the end, the clues pointing to suspects other than the murderer are red herrings. <br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><A HREF="http://www.mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Mystery Writing is Murder</A>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-76928635440739112022009-05-27T12:50:30.900-05:002009-05-27T12:50:30.900-05:00Thanks, Mark! It's interesting to see how differen...Thanks, Mark! It's interesting to see how different authors do this -- and how some ideas we think will bear fruit, don't!Libby McKinmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00103167821798683594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041804343600978883.post-35685531823830456112009-05-27T08:58:40.065-05:002009-05-27T08:58:40.065-05:00Okay, I'll dish. I plant seeds as I go. I don't k...Okay, I'll dish. I plant seeds as I go. I don't know if they will grow into clues or plot elements until I'm finished. Then I go back on subsequent drafts and weed out all the ones that didn't amount to much. After that, I may have to do more rewriting to put in necessary clues that didn't get seeded the first time.<br /><br />Mark Troy<br />http://hawaiian-eye.blogspot.comMark Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10746027017657987261noreply@blogger.com