Whether it’s Search A Word,puzzles, Word Finds, or even mazes, mystery clues are the key to solving these.
And these various types of puzzles are all part of the intrigue you need to be aware of and use as strategies to bring your reader into your story.
If you need help setting up mysteries, you can look for websites that specialize in things like setting up games to give you an edge.
You can find help in creating Search A Word Puzzles and other word finds games or puzzle mazes and other games at this website http://www.discoveryeducation.com/.
Another phenomena that is an equally good tool at helping you create your mystery is the graphic novel.
Not that you have to write your mystery as a graphic novel, but if you are a visual type of person you will find “seeing” your mystery unfold can help you balance the twists and turns, search a word puzzle, word finds, puzzle mazes in visual content to create the verbal mix you need to narrate and dialogue the perfect mystery.
Here is a website where you can create your own cartoon panels for free http://www.pizton.com.
It will help you “see” your story unfold.
And with a mystery it helps you place red herrings and clues in precisely the right place.
Of course you will want to find photos or clip art to use to generate visuals in your cartoon/graphic strip.
You will find royalty free photos at pixabay.com.
You can use images from pixabay to build your graphic novel or your vision board of your story in progress, if you are a visual person.
When you work crossword puzzles it helps you get a handle on puzzling out the mystery by getting you to think outside the ordinary.
Synonyms are a way of stretching your mind to see more than just the cliché or the routine answers.
Next time you think mystery, think search a word puzzle, think word finds, puzzle mazes and think clues you will find in the pictures to help you create a story worth telling.
Another Piece of the Puzzle
Consider the name you choose for your character as part of that puzzle.
The meaning of the name, the sound of the name.
For instance, soft consonants as in Mary, Will make the person friendly sounding, where as Noreen, Angie, Nick have a nasal sound that make your character sound like a whiner.
Sibilant sounds – are good choices for your villains name, Chaz, Seth, Zhering because they sound harsh.
If you wish to create a character who is jumpy or uncertain use single syllable names that end with a stopping sound like Mark, Jan, Sam (almost hisses like a snake doesn’t it?).
The Writer’s Digest Character Naming Sourcebook is a plethora of valuable information.
It is a veritable bible for finding the suitable name for your character.
“The beginning of wisdom is learning to call some things by their right names,” goes an Ancient Chinese Proverb.
The right name for your character can greatly enhance your story.
A character’s name in fiction can effectively help you tell your story.
A name should reflect “what makes a character tick,” says Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Mysteries after all are puzzles, and puzzle lovers seem to love mysteries.
Put all the puzzle pieces together for your mystery, and you’ll come up with a story readers won’t want to put down.
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