Crime Fiction Writing Lessons from Soap Operas' Dramatic Plots

Crime Fiction Writing Lessons from Soap Operas' Dramatic Plots

Messy mysteries, amirite? Writing 'em's no walk in the park, whether you're crafting a steamy thriller or a cozy whodunit. Readers demand plenty: scatter red herrings like confetti, drop clues that sneak up like a cat burglar, unravel a plot thicker than a mammoth knitted jumper, maintain tension from start to finish, and throw in a baker's dozen of suspicious characters. And hey, they want your murder method to be as unique as a snowflake on a rollercoaster. If this ain't enough to make a grown writer hairy, then they must be reincarnated Agatha Christie.

But here's a surprise so juicy, it'll make your sweet tooth cry for sugar: cozy mysteries are nothing more than daytime dramas. No, not the opera kind - the soap opera variety.

Take a second to absorb that. No matter if the crime scene's set in a posh boarding school, a rural vet's office, or a hipster record store that swears only vinyl, the truth is in the soap suds. Cozy mysteries are all about a group of entwined characters who each weekface one big ol' crisis after another. Sounds like a soap to me.

Once I spotted the link between these genres, I knew I was golden. I mean, I am a gallon of soap opera fan. I eat, sleep, and breathe the stuff.

I've got the pacing down, I can write dialogue that's loaded with emotions and exposition, I can weave in and out of plot and subplot with grace, and I'm all about the cliffhanger. Soap operas are my comfort zone, baby.

So when my editor suggested I take on a cozy mystery series, I finally realized I could handle it. Sure, my initial reaction was to sneak away like a cat burgling a diamond, but once I understood the connection between these genres, I was all in.

Now, to be clear, I'm no fabulous, fantabulous soap opera fan. I've been watching these dramas for years, and I ain't ashamed to admit it.

It all started when I was young and stuck in the house with a bug. I watched an endless loop of brain candy while mom went about her chores, but then something caught my eye. It was a drama - one that was on during the day, no less. Never seen that before, huh? I was hooked from the first minute, and I never looked back.

Those daytime dramas became my constant companions during snow days, half-days, and summers. I ran home to catch my favorite shows and even made my granny, who lived with us, fill me in on the details when I had to miss an episode. When VCRs came along, I was set for life. My soapy world expanded tenfold, and I got to know soaps like Santa Barbara, Another World, and As The World Turns.

But one soap stands out: The Edge of Night. Its dark and dramatic twists made it different from the usual soaps. And you know what? That's what I needed to write my cozy mysteries. I've always wanted to write soaps, but for now, thanks to The Edge of Night, I can put my energy into the Ferrara Family Mystery Series. I'm weaving my murder mysteries just like the masters did on that soap.

These days, I'm still keeping up with my favorite soaps, but I'm also crafting my own mysteries with a little soap-opera flair. And trust me, they'll leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside...or maybe with a heart racing and eyes wide in suspense. It's all in the drama.

Now, go forth and solve some mysteries! Or, you know, watch a soap. Whichever floats your boat.

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Mysteries? More like Soap-sities!!

J. D. Griffo

Murder in Tranquility Parkhttp://michaelgriffo.com/

1. Intriguingly, cozy mysteries share a strong resemblance to daytime soaps, both revolving around a group of characters facing one crisis after another.
2. My initial reaction to writing a cozy mystery series was to escape like a cat burglar, but understanding its connection to soap operas changed my perspective.
3. The dark and dramatic twists of the soap opera The Edge of Night inspired me to write my cozy mysteries, providing a unique fusion of drama and suspense.
4. When not engrossed in solving murder mysteries, I continue watching my favorite soaps, maintaining a balance between entertainment and literature.

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