MYSTERIES, SCIENCE FICTION, AND FANTASY

MYSTERY SETTINGS  Time period doesn’t matter, but, remember, the farther back in time you go, the fewer crime solving options you will have.  You have to paint a picture that will make your readers nervous.  Time period doesn’t matter, but, remember, the farther back in time you go, the fewer crime solving options you will have.  You have to paint a picture that will make your readers nervous.

THE CAST OF A MYSTERY  Protagonist - HERO  Antagonist - VILLAIN  Star Witnesses (optional)  RED HERRINGS!!!  Protagonist - HERO  Antagonist - VILLAIN  Star Witnesses (optional)  RED HERRINGS!!!

RED HERRINGS  These are the suspects thrown in a readers way to throw them off the trail of the REAL antagonist

PATH OF A GOOD MYSTERY

EXAMPLES OF MYSTERY

SCIENCE FICTION SETTING  No restrictions - however, most popular settings are in space, in the future, or in secret government labs  Since most sci-fi stories deal with things that have not happened yet, the future is the easiest setting to work with  No restrictions - however, most popular settings are in space, in the future, or in secret government labs  Since most sci-fi stories deal with things that have not happened yet, the future is the easiest setting to work with

SCIFI CREATURES  Aliens (not necessarily strange)  Robots  Cyborgs  Computers  Aliens (not necessarily strange)  Robots  Cyborgs  Computers

ONLY THE POSSIBLE  You can only include things that are POSSIBLE. Science Fiction is all about “maybe.”

EXAMPLES OF SCI-FI

FANTASY SETTINGS  Usually in medieval times  Easier to set in the past when readers can believe things USED TO exist.  Usually in medieval times  Easier to set in the past when readers can believe things USED TO exist.

DRAGONS, HOBBITS & STUFF  Wizards  Witches  Elves  Dragons  Medieval People  Dwarves  Hobbits  Wizards  Witches  Elves  Dragons  Medieval People  Dwarves  Hobbits  Giants  Ghosts  Merpeople  Mythological Creatures  Trolls  Monsters  Giants  Ghosts  Merpeople  Mythological Creatures  Trolls  Monsters

ALL BETS ARE OFF  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE  Most Fantasy deals with some sort of magic  If you run into any snags - create a creature or a spell to fix it!!!  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE  Most Fantasy deals with some sort of magic  If you run into any snags - create a creature or a spell to fix it!!!

EXAMPLES OF FANTASY