How to Write a Mystery Script

So you have been searching for the perfect angle of your new script, and you want to make it a spine tingling, edge-of-your-seat mystery that would make even Poe tussle with angst. You have brushed up on your Hitchcock, having watched "The Birds" for the umpteenth time; but where do you even start? Here are a few tips that may lead your script down that scary dark hallway, and leave your readers guessing as to whodunit.

Your new mystery story has to begin with a good idea. You may take a slant off a current event, or go to the far reaches of your imagination to conjure up the basis of the tale. Remember that the key to a good mystery story is you want the reader or viewer to try to solve the crime, or puzzle, before the detective. Be clear and concise with your plot, and try not to stray off on too many tangents. Make sure you ask yourself what the setting is, as well as the timing. Did this happen in the late 1800's Paris, or yesterday in downtown Los Angeles?

The main character of your story is the most important element, and he or she must be introduced at the beginning. A classic main character might be a detective, but this does not always have to be the case. Your main character may end up being the new guy in town; just make sure they are developed and believable. The identity of the main character will often dictate how the plot will grow. Ask yourself how the characters personality will affect the way in which the mystery is solved.

Decide whether or not your main character has a supporting cast. Is there a Watson to your Sherlock Holmes? If so, what is the relationship between these characters? These supporting characters do not have to be aligned with the protagonist. Maybe they are more closely associated with the villain, Describe who they are and how they fit into the plot.

The hook of any good mystery is the crime itself. This should be introduced in the first quarter of the script. The plot is laid out, the characters are identified, and now the crime is uncovered. Once the crime is played out, the audience will have sufficient questions and theories as to how the rest of the story will play out, and who is responsible for the most heinous crime.

How does any good detective solve a crime? By following the clues. Be sure to leave an ample amount of clues for your viewers to discover. This is where the viewer can have some fun by thinking they have the mystery wrapped up well before the detective. Your clues can be vague in order to make it more difficult, or even misleading. A term used in mystery writing called "red herrings" can be just that; a little slice of information that may make you suspect the wrong character, thus, keeping the audience on their toes.

Another important element to the mystery is suspense. In film, there are many ways to create a scene full of suspense. It may be a dark, rainy night and you find your car broke-down at the old house with no lights on. You may hear noises coming from that dark hallway, or run into that creepy guy who just doesn't seem right. Make your characters afraid. Your audience will identify with the character, and they will also become scared.

Make sure that your crime is believable. In other words: is the villain physically or mentally capable of committing that crime? In that your villain has to be believable, so too does your main character. Unless you made him or her a super-psychic, they should only use the clues that are also seen by the audience.

Finally, you should have the ending of your script done before you start. If you have the ending mapped out you are less likely to write yourself off course and into a corner somewhere with those "C" grade scripts.

There are many different aspects, and angles to take when writing a mystery. Though there is a general structure that can be found amongst all the great mystery films, be creative, and have fun; your imagination can sometimes be your best tool.

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