WRITING ADVICE: Short Stories – Advice and Observation #38: “Agatha Christie & Me”

In this series, I’m going to use advice from people who, in addition to writing novels, have also spent plenty of time “interning” with short stories. While most of them are speculative fiction writers, I’ll also be looking at plain, old, effective short story writers. I’m going to use advice from people who, in addition to writing novels, have also spent plenty of time “interning” with short stories. The advice will be in the form of one or several quotes off of which I’ll jump and connect to my own writing experience. While I don’t write full-time, nor do I make enough money with my writing to live off of it...neither do most of the professional writers...someone pays for and publishes ten percent of what I write. When I started this blog, that was NOT true, so I may have reached a point where my own advice is reasonably good. We shall see as I work to increase my writing output and sales! As always, your comments are welcome! For example, “Agatha Christie was a prolific short story writer. She wrote 153 short stories collected in 14 original books, (and also wrote 66 detective novels) featuring famous sleuths like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. So, without further ado, short story observations by Agatha Christie – with a few from myself...)

Christie's work has sold more copies than both Shakespeare and the traditional King James Bible. She DID write GREAT WORKS that had a profound impact on the mystery genre in the English-speaking world. But she also wrote lots of short stories. But what did she have to say about WRITING them?

1. Start Your Plot
“There is always, of course, that terrible three weeks…when you are trying to get started on a [book] story. There is no agony like it.”

2. Let Your Plot Develop
“Christie found her ideas by letting her mind run wild while she was busy doing other things.” It’s NOT new or unique. It’s ALSO fun!

3. Use What Interests YOU
Christie had MANY interests: medicine, archaeology, card playing, psychic stuff, her dog, world travel, nature, and just living life to its fullest. I love science, science fiction, camping, biking, and the culture of the schools I’ve worked in, plus other countries I’ve been to. All of these can help your plot.

4. Plot Your Character’s Flaws
We ALL like to read about characters like US – except THEY can do things we can’t! Christie created one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. This did not mean she liked Hercule Poirot! Develop your character’s background, flaws, sharp edges, and history...even though the reader might NEVER see these.

5. Plotting Characters & Their Potential
Christie once wrote that “In everyone there arises from time to time the wish to kill, though almost NEVER the will to kill.” I use my writing skills to create “monsters”, aliens, and then TONS of stress, and suspense to drive every story. Christie embraced the “dark side” of people by using her knowledge of psychology.

6. LET Cause & Effect Drive Your Plot
“To get at the cause for a thing, we have to study what happened.” Two of the most important questions for a fiction writer. ‘What if?’ leads to the WHY. ‘What happens next?’ is important for the WHAT HAPPENS. That’s cause and effect at work. If this happens, what will happen next? OUTLINE YOUR STORY! Writers can expect to spend hours alone while plotting, writing, and editing. Some writers prefer to share the task; others like Christie liked to plot alone?

FINALLY.
Mastering plot is not easy, but Christie shows that great storytelling comes down to precision, misdirection, and careful planning. Whether you’re crafting a complex mystery or simply trying to keep readers turning the pages, these tips offer a timeless blueprint for success. Use them to deepen suspense and deliver endings your readers will never see coming.

References: https://anarrativeoftheirown.substack.com/p/writing-rituals-of-agatha-christie, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUBdgv38SF4,  https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie/how-christie-wrote, https://www.reddit.com/r/agathachristie/comments/1asnltb/what_are_the_short_agatha_books/
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