Everything I Know About Writing Red Herrings
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2021
- What's a Red Herring? Simple! It's any distraction from the solution to your mystery novel. In this video, I’ll tell you everything I know about how to write Red Herrings for your mystery, including:
* 2 ways to set up Red Herrings
* 5 ways to pay off Red Herrings--that is, to bring them to a conclusion that satisfies the reader, AND
* What is a suspect subplot?
I love writing cozy mysteries! Check them out here: smile.amazon.com/Jane-Kalmes/...
I developed my ideas about fiction try studying many resources, including these books: www.fictiontechnician.com/fic...
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This video includes video clips from:
Gosford Park
Clue
Remington Steele
Write a mystery step-by-step: ruclips.net/p/PL3KL6Jqx65DhnnJJPj4ZOEz4monf8946q
My sixth video trying to find out about Red Herrings. The previous videos I found were a complete waste of time. This video made my day. Perfectly explained, perfect examples. Thank you very much.
This is the kind of comment that makes my day! Thanks!
This is such a great, generous series, thank you so much for putting it together. I'm about to write season 3 of a murder mystery audio drama ('Mockery Manor', if you're interested! It's free on all podcast platforms!) and I hoped these videos might help develop my initial ideas. And golly-gosh boy howdy, they've proven SUPER helpful. Will definitely check out your books xx
Thanks so much, Lindsay! I’ll look for your podcast!
Such a great series, Jane! I’m learning so much.
Thanks, Shae, that’s so great to hear!
Love these descriptions. Thanks Jane!! xoxo
You’re so welcome!
woah, this series came just in time! i'm currently plotting a mystery lol, and am actively trying to refine my red herrings XD this was one of the most informative videos about the topic so far with actual concrete advice, so kudos! looking forward to your next video on plot twists because i'm also a bit stuck there too!
Awesome, I am so glad this helped you! I really hope you’ll enjoy the plot twist video, I’ve been working hard on it!
So much personality! Great video-interesting and helpful (where is my Scriviner?)
Thanks, Anthony! I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking about Scrivener, but if I’ve managed to convince you to try it, I’m delighted! Lemme know if I can help.
Another great video on the technical aspects of creating a murder mystery. Thanks.
So glad you liked it!
Love your videos, Jane. Your series is so awesome and generous to fellow writers as well. I love your choices of Cozy Mystery Videos as well. I loved Remington Steele--and the clip you showed of Jane Kasmarek (the lady taking about her love of the victim) was great. She's done everything plus more. Love her in Malcolm in the Middle too. I love to write multi-layered characters and subplots, yet I don't want thousands of pages--How do you rein it in and keep it interesting?
Hmm... I think my advice might be:
(1) Make a plan for each subplot ahead of time, so you know where you're going with it and how many pages to invest in it and
(2) If multi-layered is what you love, embrace it! It sounds like that's where you'll find a lot of the magic in your stories.
Thanks
I never thought about mystery plots and sub-plots before. I'm looking forward to my next mystprogram so I can identify the red herrings!
I think identifying story structure: red herrings, subplots, et al, is the funnest thing to do while reading/watching fiction! I hope you enjoy it!
I love these videos!!!!!
Thank you so much! ❤️
Damn. You’re good. Thank you!
Thanks!
Great video! I was wondering if one of your red herrings can also be one of the secondary POVs, if writing multiple pov…. So not really a cozy but thinking more about a fantasy mystery
Hmm… I think you could certainly insert red herrings in an alternate POV, or perhaps have that alternate POV come from one of your false suspects!
Can a red herring subplot be resolved to then brought back only to be dismissed again? It's from two POVs and each if them has a different reason to decide against the suspect, but for the reader, it would be bringing the same suspect twice (close to the beginning and by the end)
I stumbled across a great quote from Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) in an interview talking about the third in the Cormoran Strike series 'Career of Evil' and how complicated the 'scaffolding' for the story had been to assemble.
"It was very important to maintain the reader’s interest without [them] feeling that they were being led down pointless rabbit holes… The number one rule in this genre is you have to play fair. As many red herrings as you want as long as they are well-written and plausible, the reader will forgive you. What they won’t forgive you is not setting out all the information in front of them because then you are cheating."
Just good to know people still take that aspect seriously.
Thank you!
Best red herrings are found in Kindaichi case files I believe. Thanks for the tip btw
I will look that up, thanks!
🤔But why do so many old time detective radio shows (Sam Spade, Nick Carter, Nero Wolf) and some tv shows in the same vein feel the need to over explain and breakdown a story's "Red Herring "❓️Is that to help the audience or reader keep pace with the plot or the characters agendas and purpose ❓️🤔🧐🕵
Well, I haven’t listened to a lot of old radio shows, so I can’t comment on the specific ways they do it. But often, you do want to explain a few things at the end, to help your reader synthesize the new reality that’s revealed when you unmask the killer. You want them to be shocked… but then to quickly realize why the ending makes perfect sense. And often, a few explanations are helpful to get them there.