Creating Misdirection and Improving Mystery in Novels

Tips to improve Red-herrings in Mystery Novels

By following these tips, writers can improve their red herrings and create stories that are suspenseful
and intriguing. Red herrings can be a great tool for creating tension and surprise in a story, but they must be used correctly in order to be effective. 

Red herrings are a great tool for writers to use in their stories. They can add an element of mystery and suspense, as well as keep readers guessing until the very end. But how can writers make sure their red herrings are effective? Here are some tips to help you create red herrings that will leave your readers wanting more.

 

1. Make sure your red herring is believable. A red herring should be something that could be true, but isn’t. It should be plausible enough that it could be the answer, but not so obvious that it gives away the real answer.

 

2. Keep your red herring relevant to the story. If you’re writing a murder mystery, your red herring should be related to the crime in some way. Don’t just throw in a random fact or detail that has nothing to do with the story.

 

3. Introduce your red herring early on in the story. This will give readers time to consider it as a possible solution before the real answer is revealed.

 

4. Make sure your red herring isn’t too obvious. If readers can easily guess the real answer based on your red herring, then it won’t be effective. Try to make it subtle and mysterious so readers won’t be able to guess the real answer right away.

 

5. Don’t forget to provide clues that point away from the red herring. If you want your readers to guess the real answer, you need to provide them with clues that lead away from the red herring and towards the real answer.

 

6. Don’t overuse red herrings. Too many red herrings can be confusing and detract from the story rather than adding to it. Use them sparingly and strategically for maximum effect.

 

By following these tips, you can create effective red herrings that will keep your readers guessing until the very end. Good luck!

Check out my cyberpunk mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns, where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon