I’ve seen something like this in a short story called In Red, With Pearls by Patricia Briggs.

I think you’re the only person who talks about mysteries. Other people cover fantasy and sci-fi and romance but not mystery. Thank you for giving amazing writing tips. Your videos have improved my writing. I also read every chapter you post on Substack, very helpful. Thank you. I am currently writing first novel in murder mystery and urban fantasy genre.

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

That's great to hear! Good luck with your novel!

@TheExhaustipatedBookworm

3 ай бұрын

@@janekalmes thank you

Imho, someone being able to figure out the solution to a case from the clues you give isn't necessarily a bad thing. You want to reward them for reading/watching and thinking carefully. The path to the solution should be there at some point. You just want to misdirect so they don't see it right away unless they look hard. Ace Attorney does this very well, with hidden clues often being visible in pictures and videos of the incidents if you look closely. A personal favorite of mine is The Magical Turnabout from Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice.

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Completely agree! You do want to misdirect them, but also include the clues that support the eventual conclusion, so the readers don’t feel like the villain came out of nowhere!

I always get excited when I see you have a new video out! This twist never disappoints!

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Amanda, good to see you!

Love all the Remington Steele examples! That show is underrated, I'm surprised it hasn't had a resurgence in popularity, like Golden Girls or Murder She Wrote

Hey, welcome back! Your channel is so helpful to me as I write my very first mystery.

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you so much!

As a writer, I appreciate your videos. Thank you. Great video. 😊

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Good to see you, Jane!

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Thank you, Samantha!

A request, Can you make another video like planning the entirety of a cozy mystery?

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Are you talking about this one? kzread.info/dash/bejne/pIFsx5qjXdKuXZs.html I would like to make another similar video in future. Just haven't been able to get it done yet!

@Shaswatabasu

3 ай бұрын

@@janekalmes Yes like this one... I really liked this video and was hoping for other such videos but it has been almost 2 years so thought of asking. There is no pressure of making such videos if you don't like... It is just a request from my side.

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

@@Shaswatabasu Cool, I appreciate the request! I had an idea to do this as sort of challenge video--"Can I plot a mystery in one day?" I just haven't been able to schedule the day yet! :-)

Will it not be cheating. Like as a writer we subconsciously tells the reader that the killer will be from the suspect group and at the end just bring out a random person give them some motive and boom, that's our twist... Like will the essence of solving the case with the detective is not compromised here? I know I am no one to question this techniques but it seems to me that the promise is not kept in the technique.

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Great question! It could certainly feel cheaty if the actual Villain comes out of nowhere. The thing to do is to direct suspicion at the Guilty Group, but still manage to seed the clues of the Villain's guilt. For example, in that hospital scene in "Hearts of Steele," we learn that everything in Loretta and Malcolm's marriage isn't so hunky dory. This means that when we learn she's guilty, we don't just experience SHOCK, we also experience SYNTHESIS, as all the little bits suddenly come together in a solution that surprises us, but also makes perfect sense.

💕

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

Back atcha!

Hi Jane, thanks for your videos 🤍 they have been helping me a lot with drafting my story.

@janekalmes

3 ай бұрын

You’re so welcome!