Get a Clue: We All Need a Little Mystery in Our Novels

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

No matter what genre you write, every story can benefit from a little mystery. 

A good friend of mine writes mysteries, and when she first started reading my fantasies (the novels, not the other kind) she remarked that she’d never be able to make up an entire world like I did. I found it impressive that she could write in the real world and not have the luxury of making stuff up when she needed it.

Two totally different writers approaching their stories from two totally different perspectives, but what we both agreed on, was that all stories need a sense of mystery and wonder. Without mystery, stories just aren’t any fun.

I think as writers, we can get so caught up the plot and characters, showing all the cool things we created, and making sure the technical stuff is working, that we forget readers want more than just "good writing." They want a story they can get lost in. A puzzle to solve. They want to figure out the truth and be surprised.

Even if your novel isn't a mystery, there are mysterious things going on that can hook a reader and give them the same experience. Let's look at a few ways a sense of mystery and wonder might appear in a novel.

Building Mysteries While Building the World

When you think world building it's common to think it only applies to fantasy and science fiction, but all worlds need to be built in a novel. The details in that world, how it works with the characters, how those characters view their world--these are just important in a real world setting as they are in a fantastical setting. Things to consider:

• What dangers lurk in this world?
• How did this culture evolve? 
• What about this world is strange to the protagonist?
• What might the reader be intrigued by?
• What inherent secrets exist or are hinted at?

While some worlds and settings will lend themselves to the mysterious more than others, there's a lot of unknown in any world. Tapping into that can create another layer in your novels that keeps readers interested in the story.

(Here's more on creating your novel's setting and world)

Creating Mysteries with Your Plot

Obviously, we want our plots to be unpredictable and hook our readers, and the bulk of the mystery is going to fall here. "What's going to happen next?" is the biggest draw, and the more unpredictable we can make that, the better the odds of readers being sucked into the tale. They'll be wondering right along with the protagonist about what's really going on. Ask yourself:

• Are there twists in the plot or does it march along predictably?
• Do the characters always do what's expected of them or are their surprises?
• Are there secrets to be revealed over the course of the novel?
• Are there unexpected surprises from secondary or minor characters? 
• Is everything figured out quickly or are some things left hanging for a while?

(Here's more on the difference between tricking your reader and a good plot twist)

Create Mysteries Through Characters

People are messy, contradictory, unpredictable, and inconsistent, which makes them a perfect vehicle to inject some mystery into a novel. Even in a straightforward plot, where the outcome is pretty certain (such as a traditional romance) the hows and whys won't be always be known or understood. Motives will be fuzzy, secrets will be kept, and choices will be uncertain. Think about:

• Who is hiding information?
• Who has secrets?
• Who is lying to themselves?
• Who is lying to others?
• Who is missing vital information?

If readers aren't certain what a character might do or say, then they'll be much more interested in how a scene will turn out. The mystery of what that character might do draws them forward.

(Here's more on revealing a character's past without falling into backstory)

Develop Mysteries While Drafting

Don't forget about the fun of mysteries when you're writing or planning your novel. If you bore yourself, odds are you'll also bore your readers. Craft a story that's fun for you to write and figure out, and you'll likely have a novel that does the same for your readers.

I outline my novels, but I never plan exactly how my characters are going to achieve the goals I’ve set for them. It would spoil the mystery to know how they were going to solve this delicious puzzle I’ve concocted. I write myself into corners (not recommended unless you enjoy a challenge and a bit of hair ripping) and put my characters into situations that sometimes take me days to find a way out of. The moment when the solution comes to me is one of the best in world.

Because I’ve solved the mystery.

(Here's more on writing yourself into a corner)

If you weave a variety of "mysteries" into your story, readers will never lack for a reason to wonder what happens next. And who doesn’t love a good mystery?

What kinds of mysteries do you have in your novel? 

For more help on plotting or writing a novel check out my Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure.

Go step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel. Learn how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration, develop the right characters, setting, plots and subplots, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series.

With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Learn how to:

• Create compelling characters readers will love
• Choose the right point of view for your story
• Determine the conflicts that will drive your plot (and hook readers!)
• Find the best writing process for your writing style
• Create a solid plot from the spark of your idea

Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure also helps you develop the critical elements for submitting and selling your novel once it’s finished. You’ll find exercises on how to:

• Craft your one-sentence pitch
• Create your summary hook blurb
• Develop a solid working synopsis And so much more!

Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure is an easy-to-follow guide to writing your novel or fixing a novel that isn’t quite working. 

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.

She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.

When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.

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