Make Your Own Mystery Novel
()
About this ebook
Did you ever want to write a novel, or even a novella, but the generation of a viable plot and the creation of characters and motives seem like an insurmountable task? Well, this little set of instructions can be an invaluable start. It analyzes the basics of Agatha Christie’s novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (her first Hercule Poirot novel, which now in public domain), and shows how you and amend, tweak, or change her characters, her overall plot, and the basic plot twist to create your own “new” novel. Set it in you’re a place of your choice and in any time in history, and you’ll have a novel you’ll be (more or less) proud to have written.
Lenny Everson
List of Completed Works by Lenny Everson (As of November, 2014, over 36,000 copies of Lenny's works have been downloaded.) Novels •Death On a Small, Dark Lake. 67,700 words. Our hero snags a body in a remote lake. •Death on a Rocky Little Island 71,500 words. Our hero convinces a friend to take a canoeing trip to the 30,000 islands. •Mount Moriah 50,000 words. A strange sequence events involves a priest, a poet, a CSIS agent, a space alien, four horny teens, among others. My most fun fiction. •Last Exit to Pine Lake. 45,000 words. A dying writer goes back into the bush to off himself. Grimly literary. My best fiction. •Ally Oop Through the Ulysses Trees. As much fun as Mount Moriah! •Marley Was Dead: A Christmas Carol Mystery Novelettes •Granite and Dry Blood. 9,700 words. Our hero wants to write a book on Massassauga Park. Various people would prefer that he didn’t. •Death on a Foggy Spring Portage. 11,800 words. One member of a paddling group is found dead on a muddy portage. Screenplays •Murder on a Foggy Spring Portage. One member of a paddling group is found dead on a muddy portage. Plays •Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont. Ghosts of the two Métis leaders meet in today’s world to remember their lives. A short (20-minute) play for two actors. Full-Length Poetry Books •The Minor Odyssey of Lollie Heronfeathers Singer. A middle-aged woman tries to connect with her aboriginal ancestry. •In The Tavern of Lost Souls. Four poets meet at a grungy bar once a month to give their poetic answers to random questions. •Love in a Canoe. A set of five chapbooks and a songbook about the love of canoeing. With illustrations. •Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont are Dead. Ghosts of the two Métis leaders meet in today’s world to remember their lives. Includes the play. Poetry Chapbooks •Encounter in a Small, Old Cemetery. Autumn. Midnight. Poet visits a small, old private graveyard. Best poem I ever wrote. •Fire and Ashes. Poems about life’s flames and regrets. •The Empty Tarmac of a Long-Abandoned Airport. Poems about having a midlife crisis. •Love Poems A compilation •Pray for Me: 22 Poems Probably Slandering God and Jesus •Ballads from an Unlucky Fisherman: Poems from a fisherman •Tweetable Limericks. 60 limericks small enough to be tweets •Hiking Poems. Co-Authored Poetry Chapbooks •Who Would Be a God? Susan Ioannou and Lenny debate the merits of being a god. •How to Dance Naked in the Moonlight. Katherine L. Gordon (Celtic pagan) and Lenny (skeptic) confront the ceremony. •Cats and Dogs. With I. B. Iskov •For Ko Aye Aung: A Plea for His Release from Prison. For Amnesty International, with other poets. Non-Fiction Chapbooks •If You Condemn Gays: The Bible on Homosexuality and Other Items. •The Architecture of Suburban West Kitchener. A light look at house styles. •The Architecture of The University of Waterloo. A light look at the campus buildings. •Making Tourist Attractions for Towns and Small Cities. Advice. •Technological Solutions to Global Warming. •Hyphens: A Guide for the Early Twenty-First Century. •Colons and Semicolons: A Guide for the Early Twenty-First Century. •How to Review Draft Technical Writings •Rebecca’s Trail (Grand River Trail) in Winter •7 Temples to Bill Gates: a modern mystery •The Great God Pan - or Not •Two in a Tent: Camping Humor. •Why Haven't Aliens Contacted us? Songbooks •Dance Songs for Weddings Available on Smashwords •Canoe Songs. part of a set of six chapbooks about the love of canoeing. With illustrations.. Available on Smashwords •18 Dingbat Songs for Kids Available on Smashwords I’d like to thank all the people who downloaded my writings. And I’d like to thank Smashwords for making them available to the world. I started out as a poet, and spent most of my life producing poems. Some of them are really fine poems, but, of course, the monetary value of poetry in this world isn’t much. Actually, I once calculated poetry has a negative monetary value; poets are lucky if they don’t have to pay people to listen to them. But I always admired people who told me they were “writing a novel.” I don’t know why, but I did. So eventually, I sat down and wrote a novel, just to show I could actually do it. The result was Death on a Small, Dark Lake, more than two thousand copies of which have been downloaded. It wasn’t really very good, but at least I could say, “I wrote a novel!” I stuck to what I knew best, canoeing and the lake country north of Peterborough, Ontario, the edge of Canada’s lake country. I wrote Death on a Rocky Little Island in an effort to make some more believable characters, but I can’t really say I succeeded. People have downloaded a few more copies of that, so maybe it was a bit better constructed than the first novel. It included canoes, of course. Then one of my friends taunted me into doing something for NaNoWriMo, the endeavor in which a person tries to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. I was, er, a few days over, but I got it done. It turned out to be a bit incoherent in spots, but in general, a lot of fun; I recommend it, if your standards aren’t too high. And there are no canoes in it. By that time, I figured I could write something “literary.” The result – with more canoes of course – was Last Exit to Pine Lake. If it’s less fun, well, it’s meant to be. If most people don’t like it, well, that’s normal for literary novels, so it doesn’t bother me. My literary bent done, I wrote Ally Oop Through the Ulysses Trees. It was intended to be fun, and it’s lots better than the first two novels I wrote. I even put myself, in a canoe, as a minor character. Then I thought I’d just write a novel that would sell. For money, like. Smashwords said romance generally sold well, so I wrote Fire and Spark, under the name, “Laura Singer.” (You can search for it.) It wasn’t all that bad, for a guy’s first romance novel. Really, it is, although my wife said it should be subtitled, Five Canoes; No Sex. I again added myself as a minor character. But it didn’t sell, so I added it to my list of free books on Smashwords. You’re welcome. Last fall, I finished another book that I thought would actually sell, Marley Was Dead: A Christmas Carol Mystery. My wife thought it was really good, mostly because of the historical details of social life. It didn’t sell, of course, so it’s free now. You’re welcome, again. As for the poetry, the most popular are Hiking Poems and 21 Poems for Love, Weddings, and Anniversaries. And then there’s the rest. The opinion pieces are just my explorations of things that I wanted to know more about. I studied the subject, briefly, and published my findings. They’re not scholarly, but well worth what you’ll pay for them. A few are getting outdated, but nobody’s written to me to ask for updates. If you want to learn more about any of my writings, email me at lennypoet@hotmail.ca. Like Lenny’s poems? Just type in (or copy) the YouTube address) from any item on the list below into your search engine. You should get a YouTube video of Lenny reading a poem. https://youtu.be/SfHAKSgn7lc https://youtu.be/29dmESWIgrg https://youtu.be/hyYqYhDl35E https://youtu.be/x8ufRDD65_s https://youtu.be/u0Bw6xUcEFM n https://youtu.be/g3PxjmjRl1g https://youtu.be/WCmoGGdLrTw https://youtu.be/IIL7e2cWWVA https://youtu.be/SfbwWwgd5Yo https://youtu.be/ZAuuYEUsMh0y https://youtu.be/Hw4v7RmZqk4 https://youtu.be/BmTywRZwe1o https://youtu.be/lYGmMyxgKGQd https://youtu.be/I8tA3dwv-WA https://youtu.be/yaX9WYb2y3o https://youtu.be/Y1Saq1UZ0kE https://youtu.be/FDBlHLuBmcw https://youtu.be/yTiSQLzU4nM https://youtu.be/On8ClcmNWsw https://youtu.be/L3IwGhkqIKMd https://youtu.be/KhOxMvR4wGE https://youtu.be/R6ybqmVUUCA https://youtu.be/BiiYKsR8YaE https://youtu.be/Y9a6pNuEoX0 https://youtu.be/ZyOn3Smu8ZY https://youtu.be/5U0zTnAw7X4
Read more from Lenny Everson
The Best Short Poem Ever Written? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Ten Best Short Poems Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mother Earth What a Life You've Had! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/517 Dingbat Songs for Kids Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Marley Was Dead: A Christmas Carol Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ten Very Short Poems Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings21 Poems for Love, Weddings, and Anniversaries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Dance Naked in the Moonlight Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSemicolons and Colons: A Guide for the 21st Century Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In the Tavern of Lost Souls Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDance Songs for Weddings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Blue Guitar Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwo in a Tent: Camping Humor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhy Haven't Aliens Contacted Us? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Last Golden River Run: 17 Canoe Poems for Autumn Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Hiking Songs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Great God Pan: Or Not Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdditional Lyrics for Some Old Songs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDid Hamlet Love Ophelia?: and Other Thoughts on the Play Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Ordinary Waters: Canoe Poems from a Strange Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTechnological Cures for Global Warming Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFireplace and Wine: 15 Canoe Poems for Winter Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaint Grotesque of the Subway Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeath on a Foggy Spring Portage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHamlet: The Comedy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlly Oop Through the Ulysses Trees Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTweetable Limericks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLast Exit to Pine Lake Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCanoe Songs Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Related to Make Your Own Mystery Novel
Related ebooks
Love's Journey Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBait and Switch Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Heartful Art of Revision: An Intuitive Guide to Editing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLetters to New Authors: 29 Encouraging Letters to Your Inner Writer: Letters to New Authors, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWords and Wonder: A Guide to Becoming a Creative Writer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Popcorn Principles: A Novelist's Guide To Learning From Movies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Technique of the Mystery Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLaying the Music to Rest Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlot Like Me: A Guide to Writing Like An Author Who's Already Made All the Mistakes and Learned From Them, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLaunch Pad: The Countdown to Writing Your Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJust Write! Practical Advice for Writing Your Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGravel on the Side of the Road: True stories from a broad who has been there Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Santa and Other Christmas Criminals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDomesticate Your Badgers: Become a Better Writer through Deliberate Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Extreme Novelist: The No-Time-to-Write Method for Drafting Your Novel: The Extreme Novelist Writes, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBig Book of Best Short Stories - Volume 14 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnbroken Bonds Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf Loved: a Month of Meditations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Six Senses in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last Werewolf Hunter: The Complete Series Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Matter for God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAppraise Her Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPortable Magic: How to Write and Publish a Great Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHead to Heart Talks: Walking a Sacred Path Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe First Look Literary Ladies Guide to Using the Five Senses to Improve Your Writing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBecoming a Writer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIf You Hear Me Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fiction Builder! Outlining and Plotting Your Novel in Three Constructive Steps Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Cozy Mysteries For You
The Golden Spoon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rivers of London: 10th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Murder at the Vicarage: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder Under a Red Moon: A 1920s Bangalore Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures: a joyful and heart-warming novel you won't want to miss Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Word Is Murder: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murders at the Montgomery Hall Hotel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Murderous Affair at Stone Manor: A Completely Gripping Cozy Murder Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Eight Perfect Murders: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret, Book & Scone Society Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quiche of Death: The First Agatha Raisin Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret of Poppyridge Cove Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swan Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Murder Is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Her Little Secrets: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gaudy Night Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mistletoe and Murder Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sleeping Murder: Miss Marple's Last Case Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Line to Kill: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death by Dumpling: A Noodle Shop Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Perfect Recipe for Murder: Cloverleaf Cove Cozy Mystery, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Marple: Twelve New Mysteries Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Accidental Alchemist: An Accidental Alchemist Mystery, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder on a Mystery Tour Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Find You First: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Epitaph: A Gripping Murder Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Marlow Murder Club: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Dials Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Holding: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Make Your Own Mystery Novel
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Make Your Own Mystery Novel - Lenny Everson
Make Your Own Mystery Novel
Plot and Characters
By Lenny Everson
rev 1: 2017-11-05
Copyright Lenny Everson 2017
Cover design by Lenny Everson
Published at Smashwords:
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.
Using this, you will write a mystery novel (or novella) using the basic plot and characters of Agatha Christie’s first published mystery, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
Oh, don’t worry, plots are not subject to copyright; if they were, libraries would be very small buildings indeed.