Writing Mysteries
Lesson 3: The Writing Process
Outlining and Writing Settings
Suggested Reading Assignment
(1) You Can Write A Mystery by Gillian Roberts Chapter Six
Suggested Writing Assignment.
(1) In your journal, you are to outline your setting using the information or similar information that you read in your assignment. It doesn't have to be the same topics. Use the information as a guide. You just need to have an outline prepared for your story ideas.
Outlining Your Settings
In You Can Write A Mystery by Gillian Roberts, she lists different items that you can use to make an outline of your settings. This list is revealed in Chapter Six, Page 28.
"* Map (What's the general terrain? Where are parks, highways, neighborhoods?)
* Buildings, if any (Are there stores, and if so, what sort? Libraries? Services available?)
* Weather
* Transportation (What sorts are there? Is it a problem?) * Population density
* Economic level
* Ethnic mix
* Crime level
* Traditions, mores, sense of community
Where do the protagonist, villain and victim live and work within that place? What are the physical properties of these places? How do the characters fit into and/or view all these things?" (28-29)
All of these things are important to your setting. If you can answer these questions about your setting, then you will be able to describe your setting in such a way that readers can visualize it. That's important in short stories or books. You want readers to feel like they are right there where the action is taking place.
Drawing a map and writing an outline of your settings can be very helpful. It was to me when my mother drew the map of our farm. I was able to write the description, and knew where I wanted to put certain buildings, trees, etc.
Once you have your outline of your settings, then you are able to write your setting.
Writing Your Settings
Writing settings can be done through narration or dialogue. Use the following examples to explore various settings.
Example Number One: River City
Everything was quiet in River City, where Christy and Megan, identical twin sisters, lived with their parents. The sputtering of a car outside their bedroom window broke the silence. Megan dashed out of bed and looked out. No one was in sight. She wondered who had been there and why?
This setting indicates that the place was River City. It was quiet because some people were still sleeping. The only noise was the sputtering of a car.
Example Number Two: The City Park
Soon they were in the city park, two blocks from their house. They found a cozy place under a big shady maple tree. The park had a shelter house, lots of trees and bushes, and play ground equipment. As they sat there listening to the birds, Megan thought about her mother and father.
Example Number Three: The Deserted Shack
They walked cautiously up to the cabin and knelt underneath a window. Lifting up their heads and peeking in they saw a room with some living room furniture and a small kitchen. Everything seemed old. They opened the door and walked inside. Looking around the room, they saw dust on the tables. From the dishes, food, and other items, they knew someone lived there, but they didn't know who. Also, they knew the people didn't have much money.
This is a description of the deserted shack where Christy and Megan are trapped. The following example is an example of the weather.
Example Number Four: Weather
Megan looked out the window and saw dark rain clouds, followed by a sudden cloudburst. "Now we're trapped," Megan declared softly.
This shows that there were dark clouds forming above, and then it started to rain. The girls were trapped inside and couldn't escape.
All of these examples illustrate how you can describe the setting. These passages were written throughout the first four chapters of my book. Wherever the characters are located is when you want to describe the setting. You want to see their reactions to their environment as well.
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