Best Mystery Writing Prompts

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The best mystery writing prompts

Great mystery writing is full of suspense and intrigue that gets your readers to ask questions. The key to the gripping whodunnit mystery books you love is the unique mysterious story ideas behind them. If you’re currently waiting for a lightbulb to go off in your head before you embrace your inner Agatha Christie, you’ll enjoy these mystery writing prompts!

There are several types of mystery stories you might want to consider writing: 1) Cozies, which usually take place in — as the name would suggest — cozy settings, such as small towns. They are meant to be a “light read” meaning they don’t involve graphic violence, although the crime in question can still be a murder or death. 2) Hard-boiled. Typically feature a professional detective. As the story unfolds, not only is the mystery untangled, but so is the protagonist’s character development as they face their own internal struggles. While chasing up alibis and collecting evidence to try to bring the killer to justice, the investigation forces our protagonist to confront parts of their own personalities they may have buried. 3) Procedurals. Distinguished by their very in-depth explanation of how a mystery was solved. Fine details will be explored, and the drama often culminates in a courtroom, with a judge and jury deciding whether the suspect is innocent or guilty.

To get you started, here are our top ten mystery writing prompts:

If you’re an author looking to write a mystery novel or short story, check out some of our resources on the topic, full of helpful tips for mystery writers:

Want more help learning how to write a short mystery? Check out How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course guiding you through the process of short story writing by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest, for the chance of winning $250, plus potential publication in our literary magazine, Prompted! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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