It's a Mystery!

Workshop writing exercise assignment

Using one “starter” from each of the plot, character and story starters listed in the blog dated October 2, 2012, begin to write a mystery story.  Keep in mind the rules and ideas we learned in the workshop and jot down your ideas about how your story will go.  Using your notes as an outline, write a rough draft of your story and then leave it alone for at least 24 hours, but not more than 48 hours.  Go back through the rough draft and do the following:

1.    Correct spelling and grammar mistakes.

2.    Read it to make sure that it makes sense and that you haven’t left anything out that is important to the story.

3.    Add details about characters, the setting, and actions in the story.

Share your revised draft with a friend or teacher and ask them if the story makes sense and if it flows.  Ask him or her to offer ideas about how to make the story better.  You do not have to do everything your reviewer suggests, but do consider every suggestion as you revise and rewrite your story. 

Once your story is as you like it, come back to the blog above and post your story for others to enjoy!  You can use your full name or just your first name in your post.  Let your friend or teacher who reviewed the story and at least one other of your teachers know that you have published your story for the WORLD to read!

 

 

Getting Started

by Tommy Johns

 

One way to  get started writing a mystery story is to use writing prompts or story starters. In this blog we will supply you with some characters, plots, and writing prompts to help get you started on your mystery story.

Or.....Try this idea for a classroom or group project! Give each person a different suspense writing prompt, and let them start their own stories. Have each person write for a few minutes, and then switch papers with someone else. The person receiving the paper will read what is written and start where the other person left off. Keep passing the papers until you think the stories are complete. The results are always a surprise!  Have Fun!

Character starters – Description PLUS qualities (Use these lists to help you develop characters in your story.)

Very tall, long nose with a broad chin and dark hair; moody, picky, quiet

Short, blonde hair, dark green eyes and a big chin; outgoing, curious, talkative

About 6’2’’and balding hair with blue eyes and long arms; grumpy, opinionated, slow

Medium height, black skin, dark hair cut short and a beard; brilliant, optimistic, witty

Big, muscular with a shaved head and a mean look; confused, easily angered, loud

Tall, with a broad nose and dimpled chin; quick witted, jumpy, nervous

Very short, with long curly hair and a warm smile; friendly, close talker, soft spoken

Plot Starters (Use these ideas to help you brainstorm your plot.)

Your character loses something very precious.

A healthy athlete suddenly falls ill before the big tournament.

A letter arrives from a beloved relative who was believed to have been dead for years.

Dogs in the neighborhood suddenly become agitated and nervous.

A movie production comes to a small town and strange things start to happen.

Headstones disappear from the city’s most historic cemetery. 

On a camping trip, your character and her friends discover an abandoned tent and a strange note.

Nothing is missing, but your character has the impression that someone has been through his locker.  His two best friends feel the same way.

Writing Starters (These sentences are examples of ways to start a story in a way that grabs the reader from the very beginning.)

It was a strange night; there seemed to be danger in the air.

As soon as I arrived, I could sense that something was out of place.

One night, I Iooked out the window and I saw the neighbor dragging a large duffel bag out the front door.

I was reading a book when I looked up. There in the window I saw...

I decided to go for an evening stroll. I walked about three blocks when I felt it.

They would have been fine if they hadn't stopped for the stranger.

Everyone avoided the big old mansion. It was believed to have...

Something is drastically wrong! Every time I pick up the telephone...

Use these ideas or come up with your own and write a mystery!