AND HOW TO DO IT, WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING

MYSTERIES FOR KIDS

NESCBWI – WWW.KATEMESSNER.COM

CRIME

Books with Mysterious Elements

PUZZLE MYSTERIES

THRILLERS = ACTION & SUSPENSE

THRILLERS = ACTION & SUSPENSE

ABOUT SUSPENSE…

Readers have information.

MYSTERIES = WHODUNNIT?

MYSTERIES = WHODUNNIT?

CRIME

• The What = Crime• The Who =

Suspects/ Investigators

• The Why = Motives

• The How = Method

• The When/Where = Setting

MYSTERIES = WHODUNNIT?

• The What = Flag• The Who =

Suspects/Three Kids• The Why = Motives• The How =

Research• The Where = D.C.

• The What = Jaguar Cup

• The Who = Suspects/Three Kids

• The Why = Motives• The How = Research• The Where = Costa

Rica

Planning a Mystery

Planning Mystery

CRIME

LET’S BUILD A MYSTERY!

CRIME

SUSPECT 1

MOTIVE

SUSPECT 2

MOTIVE

SUSPECT 3

MOTIVE

LET’S BUILD A MYSTERY!

POSSIBLE MOTIVES

-Greed/Need-Passion-Revenge-Framing someone-Fame-Power

CRIME

SUSPECT 1

MOTIVE

SUSPECT 2

MOTIVE

SUSPECT 3

MOTIVE

INVESTIGATOR

MOTIVE

INVESTIGATOR

MOTIVE

INVESTIGATOR

MOTIVE

LET’S BUILD A MYSTERY!

POSSIBLE MOTIVES

-Duty-Fame-Adventure-Idealism-Proving innocence-Love-I want my stuff back

LAYING OUT CLUES

Clues => Suspect #1

False clues => False suspects

(Logical explanations)

What?Who?Why?

HOW????

RESEARCH: The How?

The Where: Setting

Setting Inspires Characters & Plot

Luna Vista, CA (Malaga Cove MS)

Setting Inspires Characters & Plot

Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

RESEARCH: Setting

How might your mystery’s setting inspire plot & theme?

CRIME

SUSPECT 1

MOTIVE

SUSPECT 2

MOTIVE

SUSPECT 3

MOTIVE

INVESTIGATOR

MOTIVE

INVESTIGATOR

MOTIVE

INVESTIGATOR

MOTIVE

LET’S BUILD A MYSTERY!

How & Where – Research!

AND HOW TO DO IT, WHEN IT COMES TO WRITINGMYSTERIES FOR KIDS

NESCBWI – WWW.KATEMESSNER.COM