tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post5537134736146915172..comments2023-09-05T08:36:25.033-07:00Comments on Author Lisa Gail Green: Laying Clues and Adding Twists to Our Story—guest post by Elizabeth S. CraigLisa Gail Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-600273748258870692012-01-06T15:06:43.961-08:002012-01-06T15:06:43.961-08:00Thanks for great questions and answers!Thanks for great questions and answers!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687047513163296827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-771095855265099072012-01-06T05:37:48.740-08:002012-01-06T05:37:48.740-08:00How did I miss this? These answers are awesome! Th...How did I miss this? These answers are awesome! Thanks Lisa and Elizabeth!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-25947950452994888012011-12-22T05:06:07.545-08:002011-12-22T05:06:07.545-08:00Wonderful tips and explanations. Thank you!
Perso...Wonderful tips and explanations. Thank you!<br /><br />Personally, I love the "unreliable narrator" method. I find I'm drawn to protagonists who mean well, but end up not doing what they say they are going to do, causing more chaos in the meantime. (For example, promising to stay out of trouble, but then jumping in to "fix" something and adding a new layer to the adventure.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-89429505549691944252011-12-21T10:58:16.351-08:002011-12-21T10:58:16.351-08:00You've put this so well. These are the most im...You've put this so well. These are the most important tricks of the trade of a good mystery writer. I love books with an unreliable narrator. This is so important: "we can’t write mysteries where the sleuth is privy to information that we don’t provide the readers." Nothing turns me off more than a writer who "cheats" and doesn't tell us what the sleuth has figured it out. Beginning writers will sometimes try to create tension by witholding information. Very big no-no. Thanks for the great tips.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-78165540056421636672011-12-19T00:50:05.203-08:002011-12-19T00:50:05.203-08:00These are fantastic tips -- I'm in the middle ...These are fantastic tips -- I'm in the middle of working out how to lay down clues right now, and it's proving tricky. Thank you!Amie Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116472165351759477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-69916099646850982742011-12-18T11:31:59.626-08:002011-12-18T11:31:59.626-08:00Hi Lisa; thank you for hosting Elizabeth, one of m...Hi Lisa; thank you for hosting Elizabeth, one of my favourite bloggers. <br /><br />I love scattering clues while making the reader believe they are not significant, and the unreliable narrator is another favourite of mine.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-88211139743880736392011-12-17T18:58:55.273-08:002011-12-17T18:58:55.273-08:00Now I know more about the art of clues and twists....Now I know more about the art of clues and twists. Thanks for having Elizabeth over, Lisa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-53740489008596048832011-12-17T13:25:25.057-08:002011-12-17T13:25:25.057-08:00I've got a situation where I need at the end f...I've got a situation where I need at the end for the reader to understand that the whole story took place in an alternate timeline, but the narrator doesn't know this; she thinks she went back in time and didn't affect the timeline. I'm working on the end to make this more obvious, but it's during the story that I wonder how to sprinkle in clues without tipping off the reader too much... This isn't a mystery, but a time-travel romance. I thought of her saying some things about the future that differ from ours, but then I worry the reader will just think I'm a moron and got my facts wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-80313805585317000892011-12-17T06:23:23.932-08:002011-12-17T06:23:23.932-08:00Hi, Lisa, thanks for hosting.
Elizabeth, to me th...Hi, Lisa, thanks for hosting.<br /><br />Elizabeth, to me the bottom line is you need to be true to your reader. I love surprising, but the writer must be fair. Great advice!T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-49926203126011493362011-12-16T20:23:01.467-08:002011-12-16T20:23:01.467-08:00Lorelei--Glad it helped.:) Good luck with your mys...Lorelei--Glad it helped.:) Good luck with your mystery!<br /><br />Stina--Thanks!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-37782932804199195452011-12-16T15:15:47.034-08:002011-12-16T15:15:47.034-08:00Whoa, this IS good. *drools over keyboard*Whoa, this IS good. *drools over keyboard*Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-73856767879271746402011-12-16T14:42:20.349-08:002011-12-16T14:42:20.349-08:00This is very helpful, as I'm going to eventual...This is very helpful, as I'm going to eventually get to writing my mystery series. <br /><br />Plot twists are usually a no-brainer for me... they just come to me during the writing.<br /><br />The clues are where I have to have help, and this definitely helps me a lot.<br /><br />Thank you for posting this!Lorelei Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294047277447613989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-82621648438075355992011-12-16T14:00:05.546-08:002011-12-16T14:00:05.546-08:00Leslie--It's really a lot of fun. Hope you...Leslie--It's really a lot of fun. Hope you'll try!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-25148134835707592112011-12-16T11:03:03.897-08:002011-12-16T11:03:03.897-08:00I love the whole puzzle aspect of putting these ti...I love the whole puzzle aspect of putting these tidbits together. It makes me want to try writing a mystery.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-78782689880864010472011-12-16T10:30:56.526-08:002011-12-16T10:30:56.526-08:00Margot--Oh, good point. So we can divert even by s...Margot--Oh, good point. So we can divert even by supplying the information, but make our readers put that info in a completely different context.<br /> <br />Diane--That might be a cool thing to try. Sometimes when I write out of order I get confused, but if I went backwards straight through, it mgiht be easier.<br /><br />Alex--Actually, I think the structure of mysteries makes them very easy to write. I'd love to see an Alex Cavanaugh mystery!<br /> <br />Kathleen--Good luck with it!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-40703089568356500582011-12-16T08:46:33.431-08:002011-12-16T08:46:33.431-08:00Great post, Elizabeth! Points to keep in mind as ...Great post, Elizabeth! Points to keep in mind as I polish my WIP.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-89530790985122127282011-12-16T08:46:24.817-08:002011-12-16T08:46:24.817-08:00Great post, Elizabeth! Points to keep in mind as ...Great post, Elizabeth! Points to keep in mind as I polish my WIP.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-3112734963936102342011-12-16T06:24:47.827-08:002011-12-16T06:24:47.827-08:00The surprise identity sounds like the easiest, alt...The surprise identity sounds like the easiest, although I'm sure nothing about writing a mystery is easy.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-1566682600889455622011-12-16T04:50:52.636-08:002011-12-16T04:50:52.636-08:00I wonder if writing a story backwards would help m...I wonder if writing a story backwards would help make twists and revelations more believable?L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-71439176124777696312011-12-16T04:27:08.193-08:002011-12-16T04:27:08.193-08:00Lisa - Nice to "meet" you and thanks for...Lisa - Nice to "meet" you and thanks for hosting Elizabeth.<br /><br />Elizabeth - What great ideas for making sure that we keep readers informed without giving everything away. As you say, it's tricky. I remember one Agatha Christie novel where a key clue is a character's physical mannerisms, but every time they're mentioned, it's in the context of discussing other suspects, the murder itself, etc., so if one doesn't pick up on it, one misses it easily.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-76987756566138014432011-12-15T18:07:47.169-08:002011-12-15T18:07:47.169-08:00Cynthia--Thanks for asking it! And thanks for com...Cynthia--Thanks for asking it! And thanks for coming by today. :)<br /><br />Jemi--I really love the clue-laying. It makes me feel like a jigsaw puzzle designer!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-63086412587811908202011-12-15T16:42:46.615-08:002011-12-15T16:42:46.615-08:00Smart move, Lisa!! :) And great post Elizabeth - l...Smart move, Lisa!! :) And great post Elizabeth - lots of great ways to include those clues!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-19896693809532123372011-12-15T15:27:38.850-08:002011-12-15T15:27:38.850-08:00Wonderful advice! Thank you so much for tackling m...Wonderful advice! Thank you so much for tackling my question!Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-72396633954931381662011-12-15T10:17:40.638-08:002011-12-15T10:17:40.638-08:00SP Sipal--Thanks!
That's a great way of putti...SP Sipal--Thanks!<br /><br />That's a great way of putting it--sleight of hand. It's very much a smoke and mirrors trick, but still falls in the "fair" category that's so important with mystery writing.<br /><br />I'm not much of a plotter, but I will plot a little for twists. Although really, we can go back in after the first draft, even, and lay the clues to the twist and change the ending. <br /><br />Susan--Thanks for asking the question! As a mystery writer, I use distraction several times in my books. It's really amazing how well it works. <br /><br />Adrienne--Hope you'll enjoy using them. :)<br /><br />Hi Julie! 6th Sense is a great twist movie, and exactly for the reason you're mentioning. Distraction is easy to do, but the reader tends to just sort of ignore that they've been diverted...maybe because there are so many distractions in our everyday life!<br /><br />Heather--Thanks so much for coming by, Heather!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-3991893702422898532011-12-15T09:31:22.605-08:002011-12-15T09:31:22.605-08:00What a fabulous post Elizabeth! It's so full o...What a fabulous post Elizabeth! It's so full of great stuff that I'm going to have to bookmark it for later reference. Thank you!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.com