What I Learned in Writing Detective Stories · 3:15pm Aug 31st, 2022
Before I had begun writing Pinkie's Cupcakes, I first read the stuff in which my fan fic was based on (Sherlock Holmes), and as well as other beloved crime classics such as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and dissected them in order to learn how does one write crime fiction. And I learned that you begin in the end, and end in the beginning. Confusing? Let me explain--
I think it of as this-- it's like creating a jigsaw puzzle. Then once I had designed the puzzle, I scatter the pieces (subtly) across the plot, the problem shall be presented to us and the detective and give extremely vague hints as the starting basis on solving the problem. But I should not give out too much in risk of them knowing for themselves...and I don't want that, for that would spoil the point of the story. But instead, I shall give them a balanced amount of info that, if one were to piece them together with the detective's method, it would make sense and not make them feel cheated with a plot twist that comes out of nowhere with now foreshadowing whatsoever (LOOKING AT YOU NOW YOU SEE ME). And also act as guides as to how to solve it.
I then arrive at my next point--once the pieces of the puzzle have been properly scattered out, the story shall be spent on us--the readers/audience--taking part in the detective's methodical procedures in solving the problem. Then, in the end, it is where the grand reveal takes place. The way how the crime is committed is revealed by the detective, and he/she gives us on how she arrived at her conclusions. Note that, for example, in every Sherlock Holmes story that Watson notes down everything he sees--both the significant and insignificant points (the former being clues that are by that time unknown to us of being clues), and in the end, Holmes explains his procedures and mentions how he did so with the things in which Watson had noted down previously. Ingenious, as I see it.
But this is coming from an amateur crime writer, and I know I have A LOT more to learn. But I seem to have a fair grasp on the basics of crime writing, or WRITING, for that matter. Anyways, that's all I've got for today, aufweidersein...
