by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
One of the questions I’m most asked when I speak is how I come up with my ideas. This, of course, is probably the number one question that all writers are asked when they’re public speaking. At least I usually am asked a variant of the question because they want to know how I come up with mysteries.
I usually say that I start with the victim. And that’s true … about 75% of the time. It’s an easy way to start out a cozy mystery. You can develop someone who’s either really hateful and has plenty of enemies or create a character who seems too good to be true…and is.
Once I have a good idea who my victim is, it’s easy enough to come up with my suspects. Who would most want this person dead? An ex-wife? A neighbor he’s had disputes with? The husband of the woman he’s having an affair with? The suspects come together naturally when you really know your victim.
Sometimes, though, I’ll start a different way. I’ll have an idea about the type of mystery I want to write or some element that I want to explore. A couple of times I’ve wanted to do a ‘road trip’ mystery where I took my characters away from their usual setting (on a cruise, for instance). Once I wanted to try my hand at a traditional ‘manor house mystery’ where the characters were all trapped by weather in a house with a murderer. Once I wanted to give a go at writing a cold case murder. Or I’ll want to write a book with two different killers, working alone. With these books, I’ll start with the setting or style of murder and then start figuring out my victim and suspects.
I’ll give an example for those of you who might be new or just starting out with cozies. I recently wrote an outline for book 10 of the Southern Quilting Mysteries (and a caveat here–this is book 10. I am using backstory more at this point in the series and this may or may not be great for a book 1 in a series). I decided that I wanted to bring in a newcomer to the small town I set the story in…someone from my sleuth’s past. I also wanted my sleuth to be considered a suspect by police. This was the story spark for the whole outline. Once I’d decided that, I brainstormed a character who might work well in that role: a past friend? Boyfriend? Coworker? I settled on coworker because I didn’t really need any story conflict between my sleuth and her new husband (an annoying friend or boyfriend wouldn’t have served my story as well). Then I created a character that had caused my sleuth stress in her past and moved her into town…where she was promptly murdered. Hey, it’s a murder mystery. :)
Then it was easy enough to come up with a list of suspects for the death of this annoying character. Then I filled in my cozy outline.
So that infernal question, where do you get your ideas from, sometimes provokes a little thought. Obviously starting with the victim doesn’t always work for me…it’s good to know how else I can effectively brainstorm a cozy mystery.
Where do you get your ideas from. :) What’s more, do they come to you in routine ways?
Two Ways to Develop a Cozy Mystery Concept: Click To TweetPhoto on VisualHunt
So interesting how you start out your ideas for your mysteries. I like it is really a bit different than plotting out other types of stories. I wonder if mystery writers of other types of mysteries do the same thing.
I think a good number of them start with the victim (in a series, at any rate. Early books would probably focus on the sleuth and sidekick). Thanks for coming by!
I always love learning about how authors go about developing their ideas, Elizabeth. And I think that process does differ, depending on the sort of mystery it is. Interesting you often start with the victim. So do I. Because it’s in the victim’s life, personality, and so on, that you get to know the people who would want to murder that person.
It really is a very natural way to start a mystery. Hope you have a great week!
Both variations give you a lot to work with and could lead just about anywhere.
Almost every story I’ve ever written has come from a dream.
I remember that you have those really awesome dreams! I’m envious…my dreams are usually nothing very interesting. Only once did I get an idea from a dream, and it wasn’t even for my genre.
My ideas are almost always the internal conflict the protagonist deals with in the story arc, expressed as a “What if . . . ?” question.
Once I know the hero’s conflict, the rest of the story is details.
Aside: I know people ask this, because every writer says so, but in decades of writing, coaching writers, and public speaking, I have not been asked about my ideas one single time. I’ve also never had a flying dream. The two may not be related, but who knows.
That’s a great way to start the ball rolling!
And too funny! How on earth have you avoided this question?!
I’m very sorry that you haven’t had a flying dream. They are the *best*. (Sadly, I haven’t had one for the past 10 years or so.)
In my Indigo Eady series I start with setting–same village, different location. For the IWSG Short Story Anthology I used a candy shop. The candy shop led to a little ghost girl and that somehow led to the nun that raised her. LOL. Funny how one thought leads to another until you have your story.
Good ideas! And good point…cozy mysteries, in particular, can start with a setting or even a hook (quilting, dog showing, etc.). I remember your story–it was excellent!
A very timely post! I’m outlining a fantasy cozy mystery at the moment. Thanks for a little extra motivation. :-)
Deb–Excellent! Hope it goes well, Deb!
Fab post! I love learning about what other mystery authors do. I usually start with the bad guy, then the victim(s).
Fun either way, right? *wink*
Absolutely! Cozies are fun to write no matter how we start them! Hope you have a great week, Kathy!
My mind works overtime on ideas even if I’m not wanting it to. Sometimes as I’m watching a movie or reading a book, I think, wait…this would be a better story if it had this ending or result. From there, my mind takes the idea (usually changes most everything)and molds it into something else. Also, let’s face it, people can be so dumb when committing crimes and/or living their lives. Wrong decision making definitely makes a good story. Writers will never run out of ideas.
As always thanks for a great article.
Teresa C.
Ha! I think you and I were separated at birth. :) I do the same thing when reading or watching films. I sometimes wish I could just get pulled into the story!
Hi Elizabeth … interesting to read how you start … and where your ideas come from; I’m not sure I’d have the patience to stick with it … but I doubt I’ll find out – I seem to have enough ideas to keep me occupied writing up blog posts … Cheers Hilary
You have a lively curiosity, which really helps with that! You’re doing such a great job with the A-Z.