I made a thread recently about an Author who said not to plan an ending, but to let it form as you write. However, it is very different with murder mysteries. You have to know the end, because the tricks and twists and red herrings you weave into your mystery all have to tie in with the ending.

How do you plot out your Murder/Suspense novel? Do you have a very detailed plan, or a loose plot? What works best for you?

I haven't actually finished my murder mystery yet, but I have finished a non-murder mystery. Believe it or not, I still didn't plan ahead of time with that one. It came together perfectly in the end, but I didn't know what would happen until I got there.

As for the one I'm still writing, I just found out yesterday that the person I thought was guilty, isn't. And I thought I had it all figured out.

o.o That's pretty awesome. Is it at all nerve wracking to write a mystery without knowing the answer to it, Rebekah?

A little bit. Especially when I get to liking a character and I don't know whether or not they're going to become a villain in the next few chapters. (I still tend to love my antagonists, but not in the same way as my protagonists.) At the same time, it's kind of exciting! I get to discover what's going to happen and it's quite the adventure! Heehee

I'm going to have to write a story like that someday, if only for the fun. * grins * You know, I wonder if it makes a mystery more exciting for the readers if the writer gets to experience it the same way. I do know that there was one mystery I read that had me almost begging the story not to make a particular character the villain – I liked him too much. And he did end up the villain. * is still grumpy about that *

You should try it. It's definitely an adventure. I just hope all of my facts get into the right place, since I think I know things that aren't even true... Heehee

And I know what it's like to read a book that turns one of my favorite characters into a villain. I always want to try and rewrite it in my head, but I can't get myself to quite do it!

It's really good there's such a thing as editing.

Yes, it's so awkward. When the author writes the book, it just sort of sticks that way.