Why Was I Born?

Have you ever read an exciting mystery novel and marveled at the writer’s ability to weave a chain of events that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final pages, when at last you discover “whodunit”? Anyone who has tried his hand at story-writing knows how difficult it can be to get started. Most authors stress the importance of being organized. Most good novels are not written in pell-mell fashion-off the top of one’s head. Outlines are prepared, chapter by chapter, from beginning to end. Most mystery writers will tell you that the necessary first step in getting the story on paper is to work out the punch ending. The author cannot begin to develop that intricate chain of events until he determines what they are leading up to. He cannot begin to write a good book until he knows where he is going. When he solves that problem, he is ready to deal with the events that will occur along the…