The Skeleton of a Plot

Subtitle: Unlikely Plot, or Not?

This could also be titled, is truth stranger than fiction? Tonight you get some more of my thoughts about writing mysteries.

We've often heard someone disparage a fictional plot as so unbelievable it ruined the story for them. But, I'm here to tell you that there are plenty of strange stories out there that are absolutely true.

The mug shot is Herbert Mullin. He was aprehended in 1973 after killing thirteen people. He claimed to be following the voice of God who told him that human sacrifices would save California from the big earthquake. He claimed the victims volunteered to die for the cause. He was diagnosed as schizophrenic and insane.

I tend to think that insanity is a cop-out for a writer to use as a motive, however, I did use it in one short story.

Here is a true tale from Texas in 2018. Someone was placing flyers laced with fentanyl on windshields of law enforcement vehicles. They warned of "satellite microwave weapons." There were no deaths- one officer became ill, but fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin, and can be fatal. That would be a great basis for a plot.

Another true story is the possibly unbelievably simple means by which a woman realized there was an intruder in her house. The toilet seat was up, and there was no male who lived with her. If that were put in a book, readers would say, "No burgler would be that stupid." Guess again.

Recently, there have been two Michigan scenes that seem to stretch the limits of belief. The first one, very local to me, wouldn't serve as a basis for an entire plot, but as a scene it would be great. But again, people would think it too outlandish. A driver took off as police attempted a traffic stop and led law enforcement on a 4-county chase.

The most gruesome is this story, and it has been in the news a lot in Michigan. The mother and step-father of a girl who was nine-months pregnant apparrently killed the girl and cut the baby out of her body. The baby has not yet been found. I have to use the word "apparently," because this one has not been through the courts yet, it's so recent. Even in a thriller, can you imagine trying to put that one in a book?

Anyway, I guess my point is that various implausible plots can work if the writing is good.

Here's a fictional example. I have mentioned that I'm re-reading the Joe Pickett books. My least favorite in the series is Trophy Hunt because it wanders heavily into a paranormal cause for part of what happens. I'm not a big fan of paranormal stories. However, in the notes at the end, I learned that the weird part of the book is based on real circumstances that happened in Montana in 2000 and have never been explained. Huh.

Hey! All this to say that I've outlined the rest of Vacation from Dead Mule Swamp (mostly... I'm still searching my brain for the details of one scene, but I have all the connecting parts of the plot). Although the setting for the story is unusual, I'll confess that the motive is one of the usual four: Lust, Love, Lucre, Loathing. So when I get it finished you won't have to wonder if the reason for the crime is going to be too outlandish.

I also worked some more on the prayer shawl and did some editing.

See The Thickening of the Plot