Have you ever read a mystery or thriller novel and wondered how the author pulled off that perfectly-timed plot twist or big reveal?

You might imagine a determined-looking writer dutifully poring over notebooks or spreadsheets, meticulously planning out every tiny detail. Some writers, known in the literary world as “plotters,” certainly do approach the writing process this way. But this is far from the only method to craft a complex and engrossing mystery. There are just as many “pantsers” out there who prefer to let the story take its natural course. Still others consider themselves “plantsers,” using a combination of planning and organic creative momentum to get from the first page to the last.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, it can be useful to have certain aspects of a mystery or thriller novel worked out before you hit the page, even if only in your head. The key is finding a strategy that works well for you. If you’re not quite sure where to start, read on to learn about potential elements to consider as you plot or outline a mystery or thriller novel.

Hash out your murder ahead of time.

The finer details of the plot tend to fall into place as we write, but there’s one crucial element that’s helpful to know inside and out before you put pen to paper: the murder or incident at heart of your mystery. Start by identifying your victim, your perpetrator and the nature of your crime, including the who, what, when, where, why and how. This information can often be summed up in just a few sentences, but it provides the roadmap for where the plot will lead.

Once you’ve decided on the particulars of your murder or inciting incident, you can begin to reverse-engineer the events that led up to it — and those that follow. What chain of cause-and-effect would have landed your victim in the situation where they now find themselves? What would drive your antagonist to nefariousness? It all stems from the murder or incident itself, making this the natural place to start.

Understand your characters’ motivations.

Some writers prefer to let their characters lead the way, and this can certainly result in exciting, organic fiction that surprises even the writer themselves. (Just ask Stephen King.) It’s always necessary to have a good sense of what propels your characters, but it’s even more important when taking this approach, because you must be confident in the decisions they would make when confronted by a certain situation or dilemma.

Beyond settling details like eye color and personality quirks, crafting dynamic characters comes down to understanding their goals, motivation and conflict. In other words: what do your characters want, why do they want it, and what is standing in their way? As part of your plotting process, try writing out character sketches or profiles to help you define their GMC. Debra Dixon’s book of the same name is a great resource for building character development using this framework.

Consider your setting and atmosphere.

If your book centers around a murder or other type of crime, the crime scene will play a pivotal role in your plot. It provides vital information to help the protagonist — and the reader — begin to unravel the mystery. Having a sense of what the crime scene will look like and what clues it will offer can help you solidify other aspects of your plot because it forces you to consider what information your sleuth or protagonist will have access to.

Beyond the crime scene, the overall setting and atmosphere of your novel can go a long way in adding suspense and intrigue to your story. What sensory experiences or emotions does it elicit for your characters? How does the setting influence potential conflicts or obstacles in the protagonist’s journey? These questions can help you start to formulate an image of the atmosphere. Some writers even like to create vision boards or aesthetic videos to help them tap into the vibe of their setting and provide inspiration as they write. (Just be sure to use art and photographs you have permission to share if you plan to post on your website or social media — artists deserve to be compensated for their work.)

Reflect on the structure you will use.

Mysteries and thrillers reveal information bit by bit to heighten suspense until the final plot twist or resolution. As a result, the novel should be structured in a way that allows you to drop these breadcrumbs without leaving plot holes or inconsistencies in your wake. Depending on the book, a traditional, chronological narrative may not always be the best vehicle to maintain the ambiguity you need.

Here are some questions to help you build out your structure:

• Will there be one point-of-view or multiple? Will they be relayed in first, second or third person?

• Will the plot unfold chronologically or shift back and forth in time?

• Will it be written in present tense or past tense?

These structural elements can be tedious and complex to untangle if you decide to make a change down the road, so it’s wise to think about what would best serve your book before getting in too deep.

Remember to think about the story underneath the plot.

The plot of your novel — the sequence of events that brings your characters from the beginning to the end — is important, especially in the mystery and thriller genres. But one could argue that the story is equally important.

You might be wondering what the difference is. The key distinction is that story relates to the journey your protagonist takes over the course of the book, or their character arc, whereas plot refers to the external action they’re caught up in. The two concepts are intertwined, and a book with too much of one and not enough of the other can end up feeling off balance.

I loved this recent post by Heather Davis on Jane Friedman’s blog about the relationship between story and plot. This quote from the article sums it up nicely:

“Think of Plot as what’s happening to your protagonist and Story as what’s happening within your protagonist. And certain events force them to wrestle with their internal demons, fears, misconceptions, and prejudices until (finally) they come out the other side of your Plot as a changed person. (Or, possibly in a tragedy, not changed.) When that happens, the Story is done!”

As you’re developing your plot, take time to reflect on the lessons you want your characters to learn between the beginning and the end. This will be closely tied to their goals, motivation and conflict, as we discussed above, and will help you home in on what needs to happen within the plot to trigger their transformation.

Don’t get stuck in the planning phase.

As helpful as it can be to outline the details of a work-in-progress, research and preparation can keep you from getting words on the page if you linger in this phase for too long. Try to remember that (contrary to the title of this blog post) true perfection is unattainable, and no amount of planning can prevent hiccups and challenges in the writing process, no matter how detailed.

At a certain point, you simply have to start writing and have faith that you can tackle any problems that pop up along the way. If you struggle with procrastination or “analysis paralysis,” consider working with a writing coach or collaborating with a critique partner in your genre to add accountability and consistent support to your routine.

And if you’re truly stuck on how to put together an outline that feels right, there’s no shame in starting from a template or prompt. These kinds of resources can be a great jumping off point to help you find the method that works best for you.

It’s something I’ve struggled with in my own writing, which is why I created this workbook of prompts and fill-in-the-blank exercises to help translate the chaos in my brain onto the page. I’ve adapted it as a free resource for mystery and thriller authors, so please feel free to download a copy if you think it might be helpful.

Above all, try to remember this: there’s no right or wrong way to write — or plan — a book. Even if the path you take is winding, you will get there. So please keep going.

Happy writing!
Meg