Welcome to my newsletter!

"How do you interrogate a writer's mind?"

Come on, Reader.
​
You know it's true.

Every mystery writer has been there.

You come up with an idea, and it grabs you.

You can see scenes. You can hear dialogue. You know who some of the characters are. You're excited.

Then, somewhere along the way, you find yourself running down a dark alley with no way out.

The story stalls.

The plot flops.

The characters freeze in place like grotesque statues.

And months later, that unfinished manuscript is still sitting there waiting.

Does that sound like your nightmare? You're not alone.

One of the things I've discovered over the years—through my own writing and through working with students and clients—is that most mystery stories don't break down because the writer lacks talent.

They break down because a few key elements haven't been probed closely enough.

Like a detective investigating a crime scene, sometimes we need to stop and ask better questions.

The Crime Isn't Clear

One of the most common problems is that the writer falls in love with the excitement of the crime rather than understanding it.

A murder. A theft. A blackmail scheme. A kidnapping.

Wow! Something about it sounds so cool and exciting.

Maybe you can already imagine the dramatic scene. Maybe you can see the movie version playing in your head.

But if you don't truly understand how the crime works, your story will eventually start feeling like you’re running through a maze with the lights out.

Readers may not know exactly what's wrong, but they'll feel it.

The culprit's actions won't feel convincing. The investigation won't feel authentic. And the solution won't feel earned.

The more you understand the crime, the stronger the mystery becomes.

The Clues Don't Exist

Years ago, I worked as an assistant editor for a company producing middle-grade mystery novels.

We supplied writers with characters, plots, and a reasonable deadline. Well, it was reasonable as far as the publisher was concerned.

All they had to do was write the story. Sounds easy, right?

Not always.

Many manuscripts came back with the same problem. The crime happened. The sleuths asked questions, and various characters ran around doing … stuff.

Then, suddenly, in the final chapter, the detective announced who did it.

The problem?

There were no clues. None. The detective simply knew that exists because the plot says it does.

That's not an authentic mystery.

A mystery requires evidence.

The reader should feel that if they had been paying close enough attention, they could have solved it too.

You don't have to make it easy. But you do have to play fair.

The Ending Doesn't Satisfy

Even if readers don't guess the culprit, they should feel satisfied when the answer arrives.

They should be able to say:

"I didn't see that coming—but now it makes perfect sense."

That's one of the great pleasures of mystery fiction.

When the reveal feels disconnected from everything that came before, readers feel cheated.

The solution must feel inevitable once it's revealed.

That's the difference.

Don't Forget the Characters

Audiences don't come to stories because they love clues.

They come because they care about people.

We follow characters.

We worry about them, root for them, and fear for them.

Whether we're talking about the victim, the villain, or the victor, we need characters who feel alive. Compelling. Authentic.

If your mystery isn't working, ask yourself:

• Do I understand the crime?
• Have I laid out legitimate clues?
• Is my solution satisfying?
• Are my characters worth following?

Those four questions alone can uncover a surprising number of story problems.

Rewrites Are Your Friends

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Rewrites are your friends.

Your first draft doesn't have to be perfect.

It simply has to exist.

Get the story out of your head and onto the page.

Then examine it. Interrogate it.

Read it aloud.

Move clues around.

Strengthen scenes.

Sharpen dialogue.

Test your ending.

Let trusted readers take a look.

Writing isn't about getting it right the first time.

It's about getting it right eventually.

As Raymond Chandler once observed:

"The good detective story writer competes not only with all of the unburied dead, but with all the host of the living as well."

A mystery is never just about the crime.

It's about every character, every clue, every choice, and every consequence surrounding that crime.

So if your mystery isn't working right now, don't panic.

Put on your detective's hat.

Return to the scene.

Ask better questions.

The answers may already be hiding in plain sight.

Now go forth and write. Because that’s what writers do.

Best,

Alex Simmons

PS. Here's another issue with the new format. It's supposed to be easier for mobile and scrolling. Let me know if you love it or hate it.

Simmons Says. Let's figure out what happens next in your story.

Have any questions?

Here are some Links:

📩 Book a free 15-minute Consultation ​

🎧 Listen to Episode 36

If you need help telling your stories, Click Below and let me know.