Do you love stories that keep you second-guessing until the end? Are you drawn to secrets, hidden motives, and the thrill of solving a puzzle? Because a mystery novel is all those things and more.
Writing a mystery novel might be the perfect thing for you. However, we must not overlook the challenges that come with writing in that genre. If you have no idea where to start or even know what it means to write a mystery novel, then read this guide on how to write a mystery novel step-by-step.
Step 1: Choose the Type of Mystery You Want to Write
Mystery is a genre in literature. It often features a crime, such as a murder or disappearance. Nevertheless, mystery, like many other genres, has subgenres. Knowing the selection of mystery stories will help you know what kind of story you are writing. Therefore, it makes the planning part easier.
Detective story: This is the classic format. There is a detective (amateur or professional) who is actively trying to uncover the truth.
Police Procedural: These kinds of stories focus on law enforcement and their methods. It revolves around realistic investigations and a legal system.
Caper story: This one has a twist. It features crimes that the protagonist is committing. Capers often involve elaborate plans with a touch of humor.
Cozy mystery: It is lighthearted, involves minimal violence and graphic details. They tend to be more charming and cute.
This is only a small selection of the kinds of mystery stories that are out there. The main point is that when you have an idea of what sort of novel you want to write, it will be easier to create characters and a plot.
Step 2: Start with the Crime
Every mystery revolves around a crime, and that crime tends to be murder. However, it can still be a disappearance, theft, or fraud. One of the best ways to write a mystery novel step-by-step is to work backwards. Identify the culprit, understand their motivation, and trace them back to the initial incident. Reverse-engineering gives you the advantage of planting clues and keeping a red thread throughout the story.
Ask yourself:
- Who was involved?
- What happened?
- Who committed the crime?
Step 3: Build the Core Characters of Your Mystery Novel
A mystery is centered around characters who are committing the crimes or identifying the perpetrator. Therefore, develop a well-rounded cast that makes your novel more engaging and intriguing.
You need these characters:
- Investigator.
- Victim.
- Suspect.
- Criminal.
Choose Your Investigator
Investigators are curious people. They tend to be persistent and intuitive. If they have a clear motivation, a goal to reach. Driven by desire and with realistic flaws. Then you might have a golden character on your hand. Apart from this, you need to find out what kind of detective they are.
Professional investigator: Can be a police officer or a private investigator.
Amateur investigator: Someone ordinary, such as a teacher or a barista.
The Unlucky Victim
Believe it or not, you can be a good victim. That involves being someone who motivates many people to harm them. They can be an asshole, mean, or know something about many people. A good victim can also be someone people care about. Someone who gets attention from the community and the media. For example, a loving wife and mother of three. It evokes strong emotions in both the characters and the readers. It makes you wonder why?
An ideal victim:
- Many people are motivated to kill.
- Their misfortune evokes strong emotions in other characters.
- They attract attention.
The Suspect
A great suspect is always making you guess. Did they do it or did they not? They have clear motivation and the opportunity to do it. However, they are not guilty. Perhaps this is why they seem so suspicious, as they may have committed another crime, perhaps a moral one.
For example, a husband who disappeared exactly when a victim was killed. A victim he despised. He will not admit where and who he was with because he cheated on his wife.
Great suspects have these qualities:
- Motive.
- Means.
- Opportunity.
The Criminal
The best criminals hide in plain sight. They are so overlooked that no one bothers to notice the trail of bread crumbs they left behind. Their reveal should come as a surprise, not a shock. Do not betray readers’ trust; they want a fair shot at figuring out who it is without making it painfully obvious.
How the best criminal can look:
- Appear trustworthy.
- Take advantage of assumptions.
- Subtly connect to the victim.
Step 4: Plant Clues and Red Herrings
Clues are important in a mystery. They keep the plot moving. It is how you communicate with readers. Clues should be subtle and visible in hindsight. The information is not hidden from characters, but not exactly stated either.
Furthermore, you should also have red herrings. Red herrings are misleading information that can distract characters and readers following the story. Even so, the red herrings should not be illogical. They need to make sense and tie back to the characters and the plot.
A good example of a red herring can be a cheating husband who mysteriously vanished when a victim he hated was killed. The other characters would not know of his affair and then link him back to the victim because he has a clear motive and opportunity.
Step 5: Outline the Mystery Plot
There is almost nothing as thrilling as plotting a mystery novel, even if you do not particularly enjoy plotting. At least, I recommend that you create a general outline of what you want to include in your narrative.
A basic example of a plot outline:
- The crime gets discovered.
- Investigation begins.
- Suspect introduced.
- A second crime or a twist.
- The investigator solves the case.
- The criminal is exposed or caught.
You can make your outline as detailed as you wish and also include other notes. I recommend reading this guide on story structure. It will help you keep a red thread
throughout the story.
Step 6: Maintain Suspense and Momentum
An important aspect of learning how to write a mystery novel step-by-step is understanding how to maintain momentum. Most readers are coming for the thrill. They want to guess and solve a mystery. Your job is to raise the tension and add suspense. Especially in the middle, where it often slows down.
Maintain momentum:
- Ending with a question.
- Withhold information.
- Raise the stakes.
Step 7: Start Writing Your Mystery Novel
The most important step. Writing. You might feel paralyzed because you want to be a mystery expert or figure out everything first. But here is the truth: You do not have to figure out everything now. You can edit later. Polish after you have written. The only way you can make your mystery novel good is by making it exist first.
Keep Writing, Keep Discovering
Writing a mystery novel can feel intimidating, especially for a beginner. However, if you read this guide, then you are already a step closer. Regardless of what subgenre you choose or how you create your characters, you have done something. That alone is a win. Now all that is left is writing.
