The best way of getting thorough in a particular genre of short story writing is to read as many stories as one can. However, when writing mystery short stories, one needs to follow a general pattern and some specific rules. Here are some tips and guidelines for writing short stories based on mystery:
- The plot is the hero of a mystery story. The plot should be gripping and tightly built. Any loose point weakens the reader’s interest in the story.
- The crime, the culprit and the detective should be introduced early in the story. They are the ones that keep the reader hooked to the story.
- The crime should be sufficiently horrid enough to make the reader find it worth in spending his time on the story. However, avoid some types of violence including rape, child molestation, and cruelty to animals. Again, make sure the crime is plausible. Your reader will feel cheated if the crime is not something that could really happen.
- The culprit or the villain, who commits the murder, should be capable of committing the crime, both physically and emotionally.
- Keep the suspense hidden as long as possible. If you reveal the culprit or the suspense too early in the book, the reader will have no reason to continue reading.