Here's the list for anyone who's interested: 1. The police are corrupt. 2. The police are incompetent. 3. The police are absent. 4. The sleuth has a specific ability. 5. The sleuth looks guilty. 6. The police have bought into a narrative the sleuth doubts. 7. The sleuth believes more people are in danger. 8. The sleuth's interests are threatened. 9. The sleuth has something to gain (by solving the mystery). 10. Someone the sleuth loved was killed. 11. The mystery is intimately related to events in the sleuth's past. 12. The sleuth is just plain nosy! Love this so much, Jane! I especially love that you can mix and match for an infinite number of possible mystery ideas. For example, Aurora Teagarden from the the Aurora Teagarden Mysterious (check them out on Hallmark, I'm addicted to them) is #4; she's a librarian with an analytical mind and a gift for observation and attention to detail (great skillset for solving murders). One of the police detectives is her high school ex BF and he's #2; lovable but quite daft - I love whenever he shares confidential police information with Aurora when he's not supposed to and the look he gets from his captain when he's caught telling Aurora something. Over the course of the series (based on the Charlaine Harris books), they use #5, #6, #9, #10, #11, and #12 is basically how Aurora validates her involvement in every movie murder except the first one. Thanks, Jane, I will be re-watching this one for sure :-)
I’m almost done with my first draft to my first mystery, thanks to your class, and I’m already thinking about the sequel, but needed a reason for my sleuth to get involved. This video really helped.
I get so excited whenever you post! This topic has been one of the biggest problems with my series, since my sleuth prefers to follow the rules and mind her own business. I like challenging her to step outside her comfort zone-the police being absent and her interests/people she loves being in danger seem like the most fitting motivations. Great video, Jane! 😊
Awesome, I'm delighted to hear that this was helpful! Next week I'm doing a video on "30 ideas for Snowbound Mysteries," so that might help you think up some situations in which the police can be forced to be absent.
Oooooooh, hearing you articulate #11 just made me realize how I can turn a dramatic event in a character's past into a *mysterious* and far-reaching, very-entangling and highly-compromising event. Kudos!
I may, but they’re a vast expenditure of time for recording and editing… I think I will do my write up on The Word is Murder first, which should be similarly intensive. Sadly, Murder at the Vicarage is out-I’ve read that one!
Hey Kate! I created a murder mystery detective! He’s a young 13 year old boy named Jason McLee! I have great ideas to put him in but I can’t put them all together, what do you think I should do?
Here's the list for anyone who's interested:
1. The police are corrupt.
2. The police are incompetent.
3. The police are absent.
4. The sleuth has a specific ability.
5. The sleuth looks guilty.
6. The police have bought into a narrative the sleuth doubts.
7. The sleuth believes more people are in danger.
8. The sleuth's interests are threatened.
9. The sleuth has something to gain (by solving the mystery).
10. Someone the sleuth loved was killed.
11. The mystery is intimately related to events in the sleuth's past.
12. The sleuth is just plain nosy!
Love this so much, Jane! I especially love that you can mix and match for an infinite number of possible mystery ideas.
For example, Aurora Teagarden from the the Aurora Teagarden Mysterious (check them out on Hallmark, I'm addicted to them) is #4; she's a librarian with an analytical mind and a gift for observation and attention to detail (great skillset for solving murders).
One of the police detectives is her high school ex BF and he's #2; lovable but quite daft - I love whenever he shares confidential police information with Aurora when he's not supposed to and the look he gets from his captain when he's caught telling Aurora something.
Over the course of the series (based on the Charlaine Harris books), they use #5, #6, #9, #10, #11, and #12 is basically how Aurora validates her involvement in every movie murder except the first one. Thanks, Jane, I will be re-watching this one for sure :-)
Yes, I think you’re totally right-they’re very mix-and-match-able!
I’m almost done with my first draft to my first mystery, thanks to your class, and I’m already thinking about the sequel, but needed a reason for my sleuth to get involved. This video really helped.
I get so excited whenever you post! This topic has been one of the biggest problems with my series, since my sleuth prefers to follow the rules and mind her own business. I like challenging her to step outside her comfort zone-the police being absent and her interests/people she loves being in danger seem like the most fitting motivations. Great video, Jane! 😊
Awesome, I'm delighted to hear that this was helpful! Next week I'm doing a video on "30 ideas for Snowbound Mysteries," so that might help you think up some situations in which the police can be forced to be absent.
@@janekalmes Sounds great, can’t wait to see it!
I love your concise delivery!
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Thanks, Jane! Your information is so clear and validating.
Thanks so much!
Oooooooh, hearing you articulate #11 just made me realize how I can turn a dramatic event in a character's past into a *mysterious* and far-reaching, very-entangling and highly-compromising event. Kudos!
Very cool! I’m glad you found some inspiration!
Superb video !! Appreciate your hardwork to help other writers 👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks so much!
Great video! #12 is my favorite 😄
#12 is always a good one!
Great video - thanks for all this great inspiration for crafting our sleuths!
Hey there, Rashida, you’re so welcome!
Thank you for this. I’m really enjoying you channel content.
You’re so welcome! Glad you’re enjoying the channel.
I wish that you can solve another Agatha Christie story, how about “Murder At The Vicarage?”
I may, but they’re a vast expenditure of time for recording and editing… I think I will do my write up on The Word is Murder first, which should be similarly intensive. Sadly, Murder at the Vicarage is out-I’ve read that one!
@@janekalmes Shame! I thought it’d be a good video because it’s sorta like “Death On The Nile”
Hey Kate! I created a murder mystery detective! He’s a young 13 year old boy named Jason McLee! I have great ideas to put him in but I can’t put them all together, what do you think I should do?
Sorry I didn't get to this earlier, Luka! You can see my response on your recent comment.
💖
Hearts to you, too!
Dont forget the slueth is bored lol...literally every reason Hercule Poirot starts investigating
Hi! Are there any books that you recommend on writing a mystery novel?
I think my favorite is How to Write Killer Fiction by Carolyn Wheat. I'm also working on my own book... but that one will take me a while!
@@janekalmes I would 100% buy your book. Thanks for the recommendation since I haven't heard of that book. I'm going to buy it right now. God bless.
God bless you, too!
The police this, the police that. Sounds like reason to say, "based on true story". 😂