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Have you lost that lovin' feeling?
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Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Aug-27-2009 20:07

A few people have PMed me asking me for advice on scripted mystery writing. My biggest piece of advice is this: Put emotion into your writing. If you can feel for you characters then you can make the reader feel for them. My goal when I write is to get a reader emotionally invested in the story. This not only ensures that the reader is likely to read something else that I've written, but also increases the chances that your reader will remember you story.

How do I put emotion into writing? As strange as it sounds, I use music. If I need to write a sad scene, I have a playlist of sad music that I'll put on. Same for action, upbeat, danger, and suspect capture. The mindset that you are in while writing will come through to your reader.

Since I know many of you probably don't believe me right now, I'm going to give you two examples from the ending of The Executor's End.

For the first part of the ending I used a song called "Letter to Dana" by Sonata Arctica. It's a sad song, but brings across the overall tone of the scene very well because it starts off quiet and calm, but escalates to loud and angry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkR9ELR6cpM

For the second part of the ending (I won't say when that starts due to spoilers) I used "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon. The song exemplifies exactly what I want the reader to feel during that scene. For those of you with the cases to spare, replay the mystery and I guarantee you'll notice an immediate change in tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B7bVD_DkM4

I also used this technique while writing in RP threads. In fact Eric Marvington's backstory from "Frame-up" was set to the tone of one song, although I won't mention which one ;)

Hope this helps some of the great writers on here who may have been struggling with this aspect. If you have any questions feel free to post.

Replies

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Sep-5-2009 17:41

Another thing that may seem like a no-brainer in writing, make your story gender neutral. It can be difficult and I know I'm guilty of slipping in pronouns every now and then, but trust me when I say that your reader will enjoy your story a lot more if you don't completely conflict with the detective's gender.

For example I have a character who will often say things such as, "Stop acting stupid boy!" I have to catch myself and change every instance of "boy" into "kid".

Let me put it this way for you male detectives out there. Would you enjoy a story where you were partnered with a hunky, chiseled, Adonis of a man for the duration of the story, had several awkward silences with him, and then shared a kiss with him once the case was solved? How many of you would quit that case long before you finished it?

As tempting as it can be to include a romantic sub-plot or gear your story towards a specific gender, it's better not to, because you will appeal to a much larger demographic

Secret_Squirrel
Secret_Squirrel
Safety Officer

Sep-5-2009 18:29

you could put in a non-gender specific romantiuc sub plot lol :D

Nellie McKinzey
Nellie McKinzey
Thespian

Sep-5-2009 19:29

That would be interesting... "I gazed into the blue eyes of the sexy body standing in front of me and I just had to kiss those lips..." How is that? ;-)

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Sep-7-2009 06:58

LOL Nellie you crack me up!! SS you should share some writing tips too :-)

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Sep-11-2009 20:41

(SS is often a rodent of few words, but he's prob'ly the Writing Patriarch of Sleuth. Listen to what he says, and does. He's one of two writers I look up to the most round here, and always have. ;-)

Breit

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Sep-14-2009 09:37

Yes, SS doesn't write often, but he is gooooooooood!

Secret_Squirrel
Secret_Squirrel
Safety Officer

Sep-15-2009 16:17

this isn't going to get anybody an avater any faster lol

Secret_Squirrel
Secret_Squirrel
Safety Officer

Sep-15-2009 16:18

avatar even :p

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