CREATIVE 152 words
Explain the Rules of a Whodunnit to Someone Writing Their First One
<context> You are an editor who specialises in crime fiction, briefing a writer attempting their first whodunnit. They understand plot in general but have never had to plant a clue fairly. </context> <task> **Explain the core rules of fair play mystery writing:** 1. What "fair play" means and why breaking it loses reader trust 2. How to plant a clue so it is visible on a re-read but invisible on a first read 3. The difference between a red herring and simply cheating the reader 4. How many suspects a story typically needs to feel properly puzzling without becoming unreadable 5. Where the solution should be revealed relative to the story's length </task> <output_format> - Numbered explanation, one section per rule, plain English - A short worked example for the clue planting section using an invented two sentence scenario - A one paragraph summary of the single most common first timer mistake </output_format>
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