Occasion / Setting / Location
THE CRIME SCENE
MURDER MYSTERIES let people participate in something forbidden, in a safe way. Whether your setting is traditional, like quiet English villages, or urban detective offices or whether you choose a more unusual, exotic location; look for ways to heighten atmosphere and suspense. Setting can help readers or audiences escape and immerse themselves in a location away from their usual environment.
An interesting setting draws people in. Whether writing a novel or a script, it makes them feel like they are in a privileged position – privy to the dark secrets or strange inner life of something out of the ordinary.
What Exciting OCCASION is HAPPENING when the
MURDER OCCURS?
Having someone die at a regular house party or awards ceremony is boring.
There must be some exciting reason for people to be gathered together; the guest of honor is going to prison after the party is over or to unveil a secret technology. This is a fictional event on top of if it is for someone’s birthday or anniversary.
One project I was involved in was a fundraiser for the community arts and culture centre and the local belly dance group.
With a combination like that the title ‘Midnight at the Oasis‘ immediately popped into my head.
After a week of thought and trying things on I made up my own tale out of the
Arabian Nights and set about using that as the raison d’être.
The fictional reason for the gathering was that it was the one day out of the year that the
Midnight Genie could be enticed out of his genie bottle to grant three wishes.
While showing HOW TO WRITE MYSTERIES, random samples from my Murder Mystery Script
MIDNIGHT at the OASIS will be used as examples.
Now what is the occasion of their gathering?
The MIDNIGHT GENIE is in town. And so is Opium Omar.
Writing a Fundraising Script gives local business an opportunity to barter something for free advertising in a unique way.
HOW TO WRITE MYSTERIES
The Book CLUE TRAIL
THE CRIME
THE CHARACTERS
MOTIVE, METHOD, OPPORTUNITY
THE CRIME SCENE
CLUES & EVIDENCE
CONSULTATIONS
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