Vincent H. O'Neil's Blog: Blogs from Exile, page 2
April 7, 2023
An intriguing problem for a mystery writer
In my latest short story, I ran into a snag that I'd never encountered before. For a while, I was working with a plot that didn't seem to provide a plausible way for the killer to get caught.
This is definitely one of those "good" problems to have, because it probably means the case is a tough one and the readers will find it a challenge. But before they could do that, I did have to figure out how the perp gets caught--or, if the perp doesn't get caught, how the story ends.
As background, I set out to write a tough, tight "whodunnit" murder mystery with only two suspects and a remote location. Putting them there, and crafting the motivation for the killer, left a case that would not be easy for investigators to solve.
I was being very strict with myself and the circumstances I created for the murder. So no "dumb moves" by anyone in the story.
As an added degree of difficulty, the investigators aren't sure the death wasn't an accident.
Because of that, there was very little pointing toward the killer in the first place and the killer didn't have much time or opportunity to make a mistake that could tip anyone off.
To resolve this, I used an approach that I imagine some investigators take. I went through every one of the killer's actions and words to see if they provide anything that could point to that character as the perpetrator. That actually didn't work, but then I tried the "it's not what you see, but what you DON"T see" approach. In other words, if the available evidence doesn't solve the mystery, what evidence is missing that the investigators would expect to be there?
I'm still being strict with myself, but think I figured it out in a way that is realistic, believable, and in character. It's been a rewarding exercise, and it's definitely stretched my brain.
Now to write the story.
www.vincenthoneil.com
This is definitely one of those "good" problems to have, because it probably means the case is a tough one and the readers will find it a challenge. But before they could do that, I did have to figure out how the perp gets caught--or, if the perp doesn't get caught, how the story ends.
As background, I set out to write a tough, tight "whodunnit" murder mystery with only two suspects and a remote location. Putting them there, and crafting the motivation for the killer, left a case that would not be easy for investigators to solve.
I was being very strict with myself and the circumstances I created for the murder. So no "dumb moves" by anyone in the story.
As an added degree of difficulty, the investigators aren't sure the death wasn't an accident.
Because of that, there was very little pointing toward the killer in the first place and the killer didn't have much time or opportunity to make a mistake that could tip anyone off.
To resolve this, I used an approach that I imagine some investigators take. I went through every one of the killer's actions and words to see if they provide anything that could point to that character as the perpetrator. That actually didn't work, but then I tried the "it's not what you see, but what you DON"T see" approach. In other words, if the available evidence doesn't solve the mystery, what evidence is missing that the investigators would expect to be there?
I'm still being strict with myself, but think I figured it out in a way that is realistic, believable, and in character. It's been a rewarding exercise, and it's definitely stretched my brain.
Now to write the story.
www.vincenthoneil.com
February 8, 2023
New YA Sci-Fi Story
Check out my new YA sci-fi story "The Gathering Elements" on Kindle Vella:
Cal and Rosamund are orphans conscripted into a monastic school that trains teens to be spies and saboteurs serving in the corporate wars. The school has many enemies, and it holds a deep secret: Its top administrators are experimenting with the void created by the folding of space and time, a realm containing unearthly wisdom, terrifying entities, and sudden madness.
Read the first 3 chapters FREE here:
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/s...
#scifi #ya #sciencefiction #youngadult #dystopian #kindlevella #kindlevellastory
Cal and Rosamund are orphans conscripted into a monastic school that trains teens to be spies and saboteurs serving in the corporate wars. The school has many enemies, and it holds a deep secret: Its top administrators are experimenting with the void created by the folding of space and time, a realm containing unearthly wisdom, terrifying entities, and sudden madness.
Read the first 3 chapters FREE here:
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/s...
#scifi #ya #sciencefiction #youngadult #dystopian #kindlevella #kindlevellastory
January 30, 2023
New crime drama story on Kindle Vella
Read the first 3 chapters of my serialized crime drama "Negotiating Hostages" FREE on Kindle Vella:
When two organized crime gangs exchange hostages for an approaching sit-down, what happens when one of the hostages is a fake and the other is something much worse?
#kindlevella #crime#suspense #thriller #hostage
https://amazon.com/Negotiating-Hostag...
When two organized crime gangs exchange hostages for an approaching sit-down, what happens when one of the hostages is a fake and the other is something much worse?
#kindlevella #crime#suspense #thriller #hostage
https://amazon.com/Negotiating-Hostag...
December 17, 2021
Scene4 Magazine published my short play Coronavirus Solitary!
Got 5 minutes? Read my one-scene play "Coronavirus Solitary" in Scene4 Magazine at this link:
https://www.scene4.com/1221/vincenton...
https://www.scene4.com/1221/vincenton...
October 23, 2021
Great review of my new series!
"O’Neil’s world-building is terrific; he explores the complexity of his future society deftly."
Some nice comments from IndieReader about my futuristic fiction novel A Pause in the Perpetual Rotation:
"O'Neil's plot is complex, introducing a long cast of characters engaged in separate story threads … [that] coalesce into an explosive climax."
"A little patience is required, but O’Neil has a plan and he manages to pull it off in the end. That makes A PAUSE IN THE PERPETUAL ROTATION an interesting and rewarding read."
Get it in ebook or paperback from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
https://www.amazon.com/Pause-Perpetua...
Some nice comments from IndieReader about my futuristic fiction novel A Pause in the Perpetual Rotation:
"O'Neil's plot is complex, introducing a long cast of characters engaged in separate story threads … [that] coalesce into an explosive climax."
"A little patience is required, but O’Neil has a plan and he manages to pull it off in the end. That makes A PAUSE IN THE PERPETUAL ROTATION an interesting and rewarding read."
Get it in ebook or paperback from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
https://www.amazon.com/Pause-Perpetua...
September 27, 2021
Innovative new book series
The first two books in my new series are on sale now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in ebook and paperback. This series is something new, in that it pairs a futuristic fiction novel with a non-fiction self-improvement manual/life-philosophy manual.
The first book, A Pause in the Perpetual Rotation, is a science fiction novel depicting a future United States where everyone has everything they need--except a purpose. A new philosophy called The Unused Path has been embraced by many, and the government finds this increasingly disturbing.
The second one, the non-fiction book The Unused Path, is that philosophy.
I hope you like them. You can read more at this link.
https://amazon.com/dp/B09DFL3YK7
The first book, A Pause in the Perpetual Rotation, is a science fiction novel depicting a future United States where everyone has everything they need--except a purpose. A new philosophy called The Unused Path has been embraced by many, and the government finds this increasingly disturbing.
The second one, the non-fiction book The Unused Path, is that philosophy.
I hope you like them. You can read more at this link.
https://amazon.com/dp/B09DFL3YK7
June 26, 2021
Read my one-scene play "Settling Up" at Scene4
The theatre magazine Scene4 published my one-scene play "Settling Up" this morning, and you can read it at the link below.
It's five pages of dialogue and probably a three-minute read.
A one-scene play is a terrific discipline, because you still have to tell a complete story from start to finish.
https://www.scene4.com/0621/vincenton...
It's five pages of dialogue and probably a three-minute read.
A one-scene play is a terrific discipline, because you still have to tell a complete story from start to finish.
https://www.scene4.com/0621/vincenton...
May 22, 2021
Listen to my guest appearance on the Tart Words writing podcast
I was recently interviewed on the Tart Words podcast, where we discussed a wide range of topics on writing, the creative process, and my theater-themed mystery novel Death Troupe.
Here's the link to the audio and the text versions of the podcast:
October 28, 2020
Listen FREE to my short story "In-Body" on Escape Pod
Listen FREE anytime to my short story "In-Body", performed on the Escape Pod podcast by voiceover artist Tren Sparks.
In-Body is a futuristic tale that touches on PTSD and survivor guilt as it explores the theme of personal debts we owe to others. Hosted by the award-winning Escape Pod podcast, it's available for you anytime at this link:
https://escapepod.org/2020/10/29/esca...
or click here.
June 5, 2020
Excellent review from Locus Magazine
I was thrilled to see the following review of my science fiction short story "Emptying the Bunkhouse" in Locus Magazine:
"A tense SF adventure about a group of convict laborers doing what seems to be mining on a dangerous planet – but something strange is going on. The solution is rather involved, but it's intriguing." -- Rich Horton, Locus Magazine
You can read the entire short story FREE in the latest edition of Bourbon Penn Magazine:
https://www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/20/...
Blogs from Exile
The writing blog of award-winning mystery, horror, and science fiction author Vincent H. O'Neil.
See more at his website, www.vincenthoneil.com ...more
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