Not all of us write mysteries, cozy or “not-so-cozy.” Still, whenever we write, a great way to keep our readers interested is to keep some things hidden. If the reader knows and/or can predict the ending of your story (or even your non-fiction piece) they might feel robbed.
Now, I’m not saying folks don’t read a good book over and over. But if you want to grab them at the get-go, mystery will keep them turning the pages, or reading on to the next sentence. And isn’t that what we want? A book without surprises can be, in a word, boring.
Will Berta find happiness? How is the devotional writer going to connect the bug crawling along the sidewalk to a life lesson? Will Jenna really move to Timbuktu to live with her true love? Was it Ms. White in the billiard room with the knife? Keeping the reader guessing will keep him or her reading.
Today would have been the 121st birthday of Agatha Christie, one of the most well-known mystery writers: “the queen of crime” and winner of multiple awards for her novels, short stories, and plays. Most of us have read or seen at least one of her stories. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, she’s the best-selling novelist of all time. And she knew how to write a mystery.
Do you? Be sure to leave your readers guessing, no matter what you write. Otherwise, they may not turn the page.
What are some ways you keep the reader guessing in your writing?
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5 Comments until now.
My writing genre’ isn’t short stories, it’s devotions. So, ‘keeping something hidden’ isn’t part of the plan for successful writing. LOL
However, as a READER, I agree with you totally. I LOVE the “hidden” element, lurking in the background! That little enticement to keep on reading because I just HAVE to know “whaaaaat” keeps me turning the pages.
I agree totally that good writing keeps a reader compelled to keep reading. And describing that as mystery is really helpful.
I have been writing news for online and print for over two years, and we have been taught a different approach… For online writing, a writer needs to lay out everything in one sentence or less, and then give more details. It is called the “suitcase” approach. You describe the suitcase, and then you “unpack” it. So my story might be about an unusual but highly successful summer camp, which is clearly stated in the first sentence. No preamble or leading up to a point. And then the rest of the article is the who, how, why, when, where details. No surprises at the end. If you have a good story in one line, hopefully that grabs the reader and they want to know the “mystery” of it- all the “w” questions.
At first, it was a challenge to write this way, but now I am thankful because it has really helped me define a story and become a better writer.
Annie and Brenda- fascinating thoughts! I’d never thought of it that way. You’re so right, Annie – and I think, Brenda, that the five ws ARE the mystery – what keeps us reading.
Great food for thought! As a non-fiction and Bible study writer, I agree with Annie that the goal isn’t surprises; rather, ensuring that life application is relevant to today, not in Moses’ time.
When I pick up a good mystery, I agree wholeheartedly that I don’t like to be robbed of the surprise endings!
Yes, it is difficult sometimes to make readers curious to know later. Reading other writer’s creation will help us much. Anyhow, Thanks for warning. Kind regards to my dear readers in this forum