Still working on my mystery WiP

cj Sez: I’m now back at the keyboard, thinking up anotheradversity for the protagonist/sleuth in the WIP I’ve been working on foryears. It’s a mystery, and writing a mystery is a learning process for me.

  Thriller andsuspense genres I have managed to some small degree, but how to write a real mysteryis a mystery to me.
  What remains thesame among genres I write is that my protagonist (i.e., sleuth) must belikeable, have some personality quirks, and a bit of backstory baggage to be droppedintermittently into the story (no info dumps, please). My sleuth in thismystery has a confidant, which is a recommended device. There is a uniquesetting and a love interest to add a little jazz. Each of the major characters,including the bad guy, has a secret that I hope will generate some degree ofsympathy.
  Mysteries do need atheme, and I have a theme that will, I believe, hit a universal nerve with myreaders. Where I’m struggling is with the clues and red herrings. Where and howto place them so they invite the readers to try to solve the mystery but don’treveal so much that they really can.
  As a writer, Iam a pantser or, more accurately, a pathfinder. I find my way through my storiesby building roadblocks for my protagonist then figuring out how she/he canescape. Because my WIP is a mystery, I have to do a bit of {gasp} plotting which is not my forté. How else would I knowwhere to hide the clues and weave in red herrings?
  Like allmanuscripts, I understand my mystery will change with each future edit cycle,and it has—that’s, the reason it’s taken me so long to finish it. Mycharacters, clues, and red herrings change and must be rearranged. For example:I know the victim is murdered (off-page), but the description of one of my currentred herrings may force me to change the “how” somewhat, again. Changing thatscene will most certainly waterfall, again, into other changes throughout themanuscript.
  On the very slimplus side, what I really like about all this frustration is that I’m learningnew things. My personal goal has always been to learn something new every day,and this never-ending project is certainly helping me reach my goal. How aboutyou? Have you reached a personal goal this year?

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Author and Reader Notes:

 Jane 

Friedman’s blogrecently featured a post by writer and book coach Monica Cox. who says 

“There is something invigorating abouttyping the words THE END on a rough draft. The story has unspooled from yourfingers for weeks, months, maybe even years and, finally, you have reached theresolution.   You may feel relief,excitement, or even a renewed dedication to the story. You may even bemotivated to dive right into revisions so you can share it with the world assoon as possible.  But rushing to edit can be the biggest mistake a writermakes.”

  Find out what she means by that by clicking on the followinglink: WhyYour Revision Shouldn’t Start on Page One | Jane Friedman
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  CALLAHAN IN ACTION, Book 6 in the CatCallahan Mystery Series, is scheduled to launch August 8 and it's available forpreorder so you can grab it now at https://books2read.com/CatCallahan6
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  Okay, that’s it fortoday. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raisingprayers for a happy and safe you and yours.

cj

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