Decide on the crime that will be the focus of your mystery. In cozy mysteries, this is often a murder, but it can be any kind of puzzle that needs solving.

Writing Mystery Plot the Mystery - Step 1: Craft the Crime

Outline how your sleuth will go about solving the mystery. This includes the clues they will find, the suspects they will interview, and the challenges they will face.

Writing Mystery Plot the Mystery - Step 2: Plan the Investigation

Plan the climax of your story, where the sleuth finally confronts the culprit and solves the mystery. This should be the most exciting part of your story.

Writing Mystery Plot the Mystery - Step 3: Design the Climax

Decide how your story will wrap up after the mystery is solved. This often includes a scene where the sleuth explains how they solved the mystery and the aftermath for the characters involved.

Writing Mystery Plot the Mystery - Step 4: Conclude the Story

Plotting the mystery in a cozy mystery involves four steps: (1) craft the crime, (2) plan the investigation, (3) design the climax, and (4) conclude the story.

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Outline the main events of your story, including the crime, investigation, and resolution. Ensure there are plenty of red herrings and clues to keep your readers guessing.

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