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The Mystery:

Stephanie Schwartz was found dead on the beach at Manitou Island on July 1, 2002.

! →  10 Rules for Writing a Mystery  ← !
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MAJOR UPDATE

The chapter writing part of this contest has been a disaster.
The judges  have all agreed that the contest should be run
as a novel writing contest instead of a chapter writing contest.

Click here for the details!

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused..

U P D A T E S :

We will be answering all questions regarding Murder in Ink in this section.
Please refresh your browser regularly.

1)   Do all the characters have to be introduced in the first chapter?

    All the characters must be introduced in the first chapter. In doing so, please do not sabotage the characteristics of these characters by not leaving room for expansion for the remaining chapters.

2)    In the hard evidence list there is no mention of a weapon. Does that mean that a weapon must be introduced in the first chapter?

   It means that eventually the way in which Stephanie Schwartz was murdered needs to be described. This can be hinted at throughout the chapters but must be done as a fact in the final chapter.

3)   Can I introduce a sidekick for Sam? What about introducing other characters?

   Every mystery needs a sidekick. Sam's sidekick must be introduced in the first chapter but the sidekick does not get a chapter to him/herself. This sidekick is to be used throughout the story as well.
   Too many characters will make it too confusing. There are already 9 characters and that's enough to keep track of; certainly other people can be mentioned, but the speaking parts and the chapters belong to the characters listed below - after all, they are on an island and rather isolated.

4)    The background on this page looks pretty  -  well  -  umm  -  bloody. Should it be changed?

  BWAHhahahahahaha.............

5)   Is Manitou Island a real place - the set of 4 islands on Lake Nipissing?

   Yes. Please check out the following links for a bit of the history of Lake Nipissing, the islands and some of the myths that surround it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitou_Islands_%28Lake_Nipissing%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nipissing
http://www.answers.com/topic/lake-nipissing

   Tourist Info:
http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/mani.html
http://www.georgianbaycruise.com/cruises.html
http://www.ontariosnorth.ca/attractions/index.aspx?l=0,2,22

   And here are a few links about North Bay:
http://www.lake-nipissing-fishing.com/north-bay-lake-nipissing-attractions.htm
http://www.city.north-bay.on.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Bay%2C_Ontario
http://northbayontariocanada.com/

6)   Isn't there a recipe for writing a mystery?

 Yes. We strongly recommend that you read the rules on the following webpage. A link to the rules has been placed at the top of this page so that you can refer to the rules often:
10 Rules for Writing a Mystery

The Rules:

1. Deadline: October 1st, 2010
    

2. Each chapter must be written in the first person so that each author can maintain his/her unique voice in that chapter. Novels written in the third person will be disqualified. Each Chapter must reflect the voice of the character designated for that chapter as outlined below.
    

3. Word Count: The minimum word count 16,000 words
    

4. Excellent grammar and punctuation is a must and will affect the choice of the winning chapters. Words like "had", "had been", "would be", "would have been", etc, should be avoided at all costs. These words create tense issues if used incorrectly as they most often are.
   Toward is spelled: TOWARD - without an "S" at the end.
   If in doubt, do your research at one or all of the following links:
   http://englishplus.com/grammar
   http://www.grammarbook.com
   http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar
   
          Note from the magpie: I understand how it is, folks. Even in going over this webpage again and again, I find mistakes, typos and grammatical issues. The problem is not in doing these things, the problem is in not correcting them!
    

5. Do not change the gender or names of the characters.
    

6. DO NOT copy word for word the descriptions of the characters or their details as listed below. You are a writer and as such must have the imagination and initiative to use the character descriptions and details as a guide only.

Submission Guidelines:

When you are finished writing your novel, please contact us for submission information.

Subject Line: 2009 Wynterblue Mystery

Include the following information in your email:

Your Name

Title of the work

Word Count

Now, on with the show . . .

cast of characters, authors and their chapters:

gb

Gertrude Bagshaw

declined to give her age
retired
female

You invited a group of old friends to the island. You were ecstatic when they all accepted and you made plans for a wonderful reunion.

You were the one who discovered Stephanie's body on the beach and called for help.

Your Secret:

You never completely forgave Stephanie for the dirty trick she pulled on you in college.

mg

Melinda  Gernat

age 31
famous actress
transsexual

You had the final operation to change your gender and then went to college where you met and befriended Gertrude and the rest of the gang. She is your only true friend, but she does not know your secret.

Your Secret:

Other than being born male, early in your career you were a porn star - something which paid your way through college.

dl

Dave Lehman

age 33
computer genius
male

You feel life is going nowhere but you are hoping that being on the island with the gang will change things. That said, you have high hopes that things will change soon.

Your Secret:

You have developed an important computer program that could change the way the internet works. You believe the memory stick with this data has been stolen by one of the other members on the island.

ka

Ken Allured

age 33
fishing boat captain
male

In college, you were Dave's roommate.

Your Secret:

You can't afford the boat payments so you occasionally let it be used to traffic in various illegal goods.

jm

John Muller

age 32
mystery writer
male

You jumped at the chance to come to Manitou Island.

Your Secret:

You have been in love with Melinda since college but have never had the courage to tell her for fear that she will do to you what she has done to other men in her life - so you turned to Stephanie for love.

kt

Kristen Tuttle

age 31
housewife
female

You are bored with your life.

Your Secret:

You had an abortion while in college.

rp

Rick Potter

age 33
west coast businessman
male

You were John's roommate in college.

Your Secret:

You told Kristen that you would do anything to pay her back after she did that one favour for you years ago.

mw

Monica Walton

age 32
surgeon
female

You are a heart surgeon just beginning your practice in Toronto.

Your Secret:

You still have the letter that Stephanie wrote to you during college.

cs

Constable Sam

age 47
police officer
male

You are married with 5 children and your wife is pregnant again. Your job has always been to patrol the waters of Lake Nipissing, something you love to do.

When the call came in about Stephanie's demise, you were the first to show up and organized the coming and going of the authorities to and from the island.

Your Secret:

Your position in the force was compromised when you let Ken off with a warning after finding an illegal substance on his boat.

hard
EVIDENCE:

The victim's hands and feet were tied with square knots.

Blunt force trauma to the head and/or drowning as cause of death.

A letter from Stephanie written to Gertrude.

The broken porch swing.

The missing oar.

The green tea bags.

possible related
EVIDENCE:

A Superior Court document for a Petition for Divorce.

Recent break and enters in cottages along the shore of Nipissing.

Gertrude's will.

A lawsuit.

The missing bank teller.

This writing project is
loosely based on a
Mystery Dinner Game..

..

Enjoy...........