I have decided to write a mystery story. But, I have never written one. How does one start? Granted, many of my stories have been tales of people solving problems, some might say they are mysteries. But, they aren’t really. The mystery is not the focus. Instead, it is part of the setting. Being a treasure hunter is solving a mystery. But, the focus is on the adventure, not finding and decoding clues.

My model is drawn from Holmes, Miss Marple, Perry Mason, Columbo and so many other characters – detectives (or related) all. Their stories are focused on the solving of the puzzle, action is secondary, though it can move the story along.

The implication is that unlike my other stories that deal with mysteries – treasure hunter stories and similar, this kind of story must have a framework, a plan before the creative writing and the characters can take on the task of telling it.

What, then, is needed? My answers are a guess, since I have never written one. But, they seem a good place to start.

The starting point seems to be the crime (or event) that must be solved. Everything revolves around it. Though the written story may be linear (or not), everything must bring the crime into ever sharper and sharper focus. Further there must be a reason for the crime or event – something that hints at purpose, even if that purpose is not immediately understood. Indeed, discerning the purpose can be part of the narrative. Still, as the writer, I have to know what it is so that I can be sure my characters guide us to the solution.

Next we need to plan the clues that will be introduced through the narrative. Some will be obvious while others may be hidden or even misleading. But without a plan linking them, the story will not come together.

The story itself must have a focus. This does not have to be the mystery itself. Instead it can be the goal or purpose the characters have to begin – it guides the narrative through which the mystery is revealed and hopefully solved, tying the crime/event and the purpose together in the end.

A protagonist or group of protagonists is needed, each with its own characteristics and motivations. They serve the role of detective.

There must be an antagonist. It can be people, or it can be the environment or setting of the story.

To create the story, the end must be built (at least as a framework) first. It gives me, as the writer, a focus and goal.

Once the end is known, the introduction can be created. The introduction can set the stage, focused on setting, or introduce critical characters, or can show the crime, but not the culprit.

There needs to be a twist or surprise in the story, something to startle and entrance the reader that is unexpected.

A good title is important. It can be used to focus the reader, to give the reader some expectation of what the story may bring, or can be used to misdirect the reader.

Settings, at least one but probably more, must be vividly described. The clues will be hidden in the setting and the details. They can be made obvious to the reader or hidden or simply foreshadowed.

An outline of the plot provides more scaffolding for the story. Creativity is needed – it is not a cake recipe – to present the story in a way that is entertaining, entrancing, and evokes a positive emotional response on the part of the reader.

While all of these things are needed, the author does not need to start with a specific step – it is not an algorithm. Ideas happen that may be part of the beginning or the end or define the crime. Take notes and then develop the rest of the framework. Then decide how to tell the story.

For example, here is a title:

The Case of the Forgotten Quarter – Or – How failing to count can lead to disaster.

What can be done with it? Over the next few weeks, we will see.

Or how about this snippet of an introduction, in need of setting, but paying homage to Doyle:

Every Watson needs a Holmes…