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Tips for non-murder mysteries
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Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-2-2008 22:34

Are there any tips for writing a non-murder scripted mysteries. If so, please do share them.
Thanks

Replies

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-2-2008 23:02

Aside from the fact that your victim wouldn't be dead, I'm not sure there's much of a difference.

Think of it this way: It's a crime. It must be solved. There are suspects. One of them is the guilty party. How you get there depends on the story. Murder needn't come in to it, and it's solved the same way.

I hope that made some kind of sense! And if that is not what you were looking for, perhaps you could expand on what types of tips you need.

Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-3-2008 00:27

Alright! If a person is burgled, robbed or kidnapped, he/she is the victim and we need to find the culprit.
Is that what you mean? If so, then thanks. It clears some fog and the rest would be clear after writing and previewing it. If interesting I shall send it for publishing, otherwise edit it first.
Thanks

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Dec-3-2008 21:26

Yeah, Joe, I think that's what she means. Although, if, for instance, you wanted to have the Gilded Falcon of Persia be the item that got, er, purloined, in that case, the statue's owners would be the victims (presumably), and you (the detective) would need to find out who stole the bird (the culprit).

There's lots of options that you have besides plain ol' murder. Just use your imagination, and let the possibilities come! ;-D

Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-3-2008 21:51

In that case, won't the victim become my client?
Wow! If that's the case, I would love to write a mystery like that.
Thanks

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-4-2008 14:53

Yes, you can have the victim be your client, unless you plan on killing them off.

Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-5-2008 14:06

What do you mean by: Unless you plan on killing them off.
Is it that I kill my client?

David Adams
David Adams
Red-Nosed

Dec-5-2008 22:19

Yes, it's possible to kill off your client. But I'd suggest thinking through your plot/storyline before you do this. The client is the one (traditionally) who pays the detective for solving the case around here. Having a dead client would make payments a bit, umm, awkward.

Basically, you need to SERIOUSLY think out what you want each of your characters/suspects to do before you ever start writing/inputting data. You need a plan before you get going with the Mystery Writer thing they've got here. You also need to get some experience under your belt solving different types of mysteries, in different places, and in different circumstances.

Hope that helps.

Breit

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-5-2008 23:24

Also, in case it helps you at all, you can have more than one person be your client. In ShadowChii's Werewolf mystery, there were, I believe, three clients.

You can have your client die or be guilty, but if you do that, the detective won't receive their reward (just like a guilty client in a regular random mystery).

Barry Grant
Barry Grant
Old Shoe

Dec-6-2008 06:36

Ms. Anikka,

Please correct me if I'm wrong but if you have the skill of Pickpocketing from The Dies Arcanum Brotherhood you get your fee from a guilty client.

*tips hat*

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-6-2008 10:08

Yes, you do, but not everyone has Pickpocketing, so I'm trying not to muddy the explanation. It's one of those things to keep in mind that it occurs, mainly because not every detective has every skill and the author shouldn't assume that they do.

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