The 4 Real Reasons for Murder | Choosing a Motive for Your Mystery

[@janekalmes]

Ready to write a cozy mystery series? I can help! kzbin.info/aero/PL3KL6Jqx65DjZcAKroahZ3eP5mo-D2u1S

[@janekalmes]

Hmm, really interesting breakdown!

[@jillstarlight]

At first when I started listening I thought to myself "there have to be more than 4 reasons" until I understood you were breaking them into sub-categories under the categories. That opens it up a great deal more!

[@janekalmes]

Yeah, I feel like using the categories was the first thing that really helped me get a handle on the whole “motive” question.

[@pastureexpectationsfarm6412]

Well, I have a few more...

[@foxglove-woods]

Currently trying to think of a motive before i write my murderer Thanks for the helpful video!

[@janekalmes]

You’re so welcome!

[@comeon9873]

I'm actually trying to write a DnD murder mystery and this was really helpful! Thank you

[@davidcashin1894]

Nothing new here. Not a criticism :-) What I love is your organization!! Plus I really love that you get straight to your points and show them in tables etc. I have been so concerned that the story needed to spring to life in one shot in my brain. You have really shown me that I can organize and sort and then get to work, and then do the work editing. Thanks for this whole series!

[@janekalmes]

I’m so glad you like it! I do believe that your story can be built up gradually into something magnificent.

[@thesmugroup]

Monk is probably one of my husband’s, my son’s, and my favorite shows!! The last part of your lesson reminds me of the British mystery show, Death in Paradise. There are always three suspects who couldn’t possibly have done it. So the Detective Inspector and his crew have to figure out why the victim was killed to then figure out who did it. The reason is always a surprise. One of these days, I might actually figure out plotting enough to attempt a mystery. I focus on character arcs in romance, but am starting to add in a bit more suspense...

[@janekalmes]

I love me some romantic suspense! If you love Monk, you might enjoy my series on “Howdunits,” mysteries where we know who did it and why, but not how they accomplished the crime.

[@Bronx_Nate]

Thank you for posting this video! I’ve read Save The Cat and the chapter on WhyDunits. While it’s a good chapter your video goes into so much more needed detail. Plus it’s clear, concise and straightforward. I’m definitely bookmarking this one and checking out your other ones too😀

[@SleepSootheAndStorytelling]

How does this not have more views?! This is absolutely perfect. Thanks so much for the information and things to think about.

[@janekalmes]

You’re so welcome, thanks for the kind words!

[@heroprovolone]

The amount of work you put into this, purely to inspire and educate others, is impressive. I feel incredibly inspired and no longer stuck in the weeds. Thank you!!

[@janekalmes]

Wow, that is awesome to hear! Thank you!

[@lastoreoandmilk4997]

Thanks very much for the time you have put together for this series. I am a first time writer in fantasy and one of my side plots that takes place is a whydunnit so this is very helpful. I hope one day to have a finished story just like you 😀

[@janekalmes]

Yay, I am so glad you are finding it helpful! good luck with your book!

[@judyshinohara]

Great content! Thank you for breaking everything down into specific examples. I never realized how much variety there could be in a murder mystery!

[@janekalmes]

Thank you, Judith, I’m glad you liked it!

[@flutterflutter5500]

i was stuck with my worldbuilding for way to long and you just solved my life thank you so so much i was overcomplicating everything in my head but the answer is always murder mystery thank you!

[@osnaapitzjess]

this video was AMAZING! i’m thoroughly enjoying binging your content right now 🥰

[@JohnKusters]

I’ve just stumbled upon this video and this series, and I must say these are very thought-provoking and enlightening. Thank you!

[@janekalmes]

You’re so welcome!

[@52andattitude48]

What an excellent video Jane! I knew the 4 basic motives already, but you introduced me to more possibilities of how those 4 motives can be expressed in a million different ways. Subscribed! Can’t wait to binge your other videos

[@janekalmes]

Welcome to the channel, I’m so glad you’re liking it!

[@trembyle]

Your clear and practical vids are extremely helpful for wannabe mystery writers like myself

[@janekalmes]

I am so happy to hear that, Mark! Thank you!

[@SybilWard]

Really well done, Jane, as usual. Thanks for the motive menu. :-)

[@janekalmes]

You’re so welcome, Sybil! Glad it was helpful!

[@marienbad2]

These are the best writing videos on youtube! Honestly, you get to the information and have so much and such great ideas. Thank you for these videos, I am learning so much.

[@janekalmes]

Thank you so much! I am glad you’re finding them helpful!

[@ilikeminecraftgaming9331]

Thank you!This helped me out with my murder mystery fanfiction!Ready and excited to write it!

[@janekalmes]

So awesome to hear!

[@darkpoetik5375]

Hey Jane, I hope you are well...I finished typing up mystery today...I had let it sit for three months; the one i wrote during winter...Nice thing about getting somethig typed, it's easier to edit....I would be honored if you would read it 🙂 Thanks for all your help and inspiration....

[@musickel3718]

thank you so much for the depth of analysis in this video! I've been stuck on the motive in my latest wip, and this gave so many great ideas. This is exactly what I needed!

[@janekalmes]

I'm so glad to hear that!

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

Unrelated but, you talked about Gone to Dust in a video about methods, I think. I was intrigued and read it. 10/10. I ALWAYS guess whodunit within the first 3rd of a book, which has gotten very old. This book actually fooled me! 😃 I liked the writing and the themes and the characters and the voice. It was also a very clever mystery. I just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation. I've been in a reading slump and it was quite refreshing to read something I enjoyed!

[@janekalmes]

Glad you liked it! I really enjoyed that whole series.

[@therubyminecart5291]

At the moment I'm planning out my characters for this rough copy of my story idea that I got from clothes I saw at Walmart!

[@TheCrazyFrancky]

So interesting! Thank you so much for this mystery theory lesson, it was very enriching!

[@janekalmes]

So glad it was helpful!

[@kalmes23]

A lot of good ideas here!

[@janekalmes]

Thank you so much!

[@tannerstrelecky8446]

Great videos! They are helping me piece together my scattered thoughts!

[@janekalmes]

I’m so glad!

[@JillMaurer]

Always love your videos!

[@janekalmes]

Thank you so much, Jill!

[@isaacriggs4656]

Sudden uncontrollable rage also happens.

[@sherrylalonde5719]

This was super helpful, thanks! I'd love to know more about Fear as a motive, particularly Exposure. I'm trying to come up with a solid reason for someone to kill a reporter character in my book. I know its to protect a secret that could involve shame/past crime of some kind but I'm stumped. So many of the 'old fashion' reasons for murder just don't apply nowadays, LOL!

[@janekalmes]

Ok, interesting! I’ll noodle on this…

[@farahamri2658]

This video came at the right time (for me) can't wait for the other videos on this series! 😍 are you gonna do one on red herrings?

[@janekalmes]

I definitely want to do one! Any particular things you'd like to know about them?

[@farahamri2658]

@@janekalmes yay, thank you! I'm actually pretty clueless about this, but I'd like to know mainly how do I do them properly, and how do we make sure that I'm not overdoing it 🙈

[@janekalmes]

Ok, thanks! This gives me some ideas...

[@snacksandroadmaps9076]

I'd like to see a video on types of red herrings and how to often and when to add them into your story. I'm pretty clueless about them too. So I will take any information if you do decide to do a video about them.

[@janekalmes]

@@snacksandroadmaps9076 I recorded it this morning! It won’t be up for a couple of weeks, but I hope it will help!

[@PeachyLofi]

This video was super helpful!! Much appreciated!!

[@brrryan2908]

Great info and killer presentation. ;)

[@janekalmes]

Thank you!

[@jendjoyce]

Woah! After listening to this I feel somethings wrong with me. In real life, I have someone I truly hate. Hell is not bad enough for her. Frankly, I never want to see her again. I only hope her behavior comes back on her. I am using all my pure raw hatred as I write her character. How she is murdered and her case is never solved. It's both a way to channel emotions. She is so evil irl I can't help but to use her as a character. Don't worry, the bad guy gets his due. On a different note, thank you for these videos. They inform without filler. Well done.

[@janekalmes]

I'm glad you enjoy the videos, Dean. I'm praying for you to find relief from these feelings of hatred, as I know they can be very painful. Be well.

[@jendjoyce]

@@janekalmes Thank you ever so much. If I am frank with myself, I can say I'm over it as much as one can be. I've lived an unique life. In doing so I've met interesting people. I use and channel strong emotions while I write. In many ways it helps my writing.

[@Hakan1Caliskan]

What about the killer of And Then There Were None? I couldn’t put their motive on any of these categories. (I tried not to give any spoilers.😇)

[@janekalmes]

Thanks, Erzan! I'll include a small spoiler: the Villain describes their motive as sadism, which to me, fits squarely into Power!

[@faydreamsmystic4]

Okay.... Are you telling me that Monk aired an episode with basically the same plot of a Scooby Doo Episode called "The Unnatural" a few months after? Scooby Doo March 22, 2003 and Monk July 11, 2003. Holy cow! That's neat. Hahahahaha. Great video but I couldn't help but point out that little fact. Just so no one gets me wrong, I'm a fan of both shows but I missed this episode of Monk some how.

[@janekalmes]

Haha, that's not something I realized!

[@FloridasYesteryear]

Still working on it but the motive is love. A woman kills her husband for cheating on her and she frames the divorced woman who lives in the neighborhood. So I guess that would be a twist and a natural place in the plot where my sleuth realizes she got everything wrong.

[@JamesSedgwick-jp6hh]

I chose a different kind of motive for the cozy I'm attempting. At the moment I'm trying to work on the murder itself and then work backwards. The motive for this crime has been in my head for years. Around two decades. LOL

[@janehousham8033]

Really great film, highly inspiring

[@janekalmes]

Thank you!

[@beebuzz959]

What about anger and accident? Sometimes rage draws people to kill, and there are accidental ones too. Usually neither are planned, though.

[@janekalmes]

Great question! Anger is generally about one of the four motives. Even a fight between two guys in a bar will usually come down to a dispute over Power, even if it’s just of the “you can’t say that to me and get away with it” variety. As for accidents… well, if it’s truly accidental, then there’s no motive! Could be difficult for a sleuth to puzzle out…

[@beebuzz959]

@@janekalmes Thanks so much for the response! I've never had anyone get back to me on a response I've made to an old video, so I really appreciate your attention! you're right, an accident doesn't warrant a motive, but I guess I'm thinking if someone threatens another with a gun or something, not intending to kill them, and accidentally shoots them, or something. It could still give them reason to try and cover it up, so a detective might still run into that. But no, that's not a motive to kill, just to threaten... in my very awkward assumption of how someone might end up dead.

[@blitz4704]

Don't mind me, just commenting to get my free heart and reply from Jane. For real tho, really useful video thanks.

[@janekalmes]

Any time! Glad you liked the video!

[@Paul12345671]

In my game, one Vampire kills another Vampire because of religious/philosophical differences. I guess this would fall under the "power murder" category.

[@janekalmes]

That's where I put murders that are committed in order to enforce a particular moral order. We all want others to do the things we think they should, but some of us want it a little more than others!

[@Jafoon_Rothschild]

This is genius

[@janekalmes]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@jimmydroid7838]

Knives Out was brilliant. The second one, not so much.

[@blessedormessy6336]

Awww $$$ Murders 😃

[@janekalmes]

They make up quite a few of the murders in fiction, at least!

[@ShhBrad1984]

This woman is so friggin' hot. Great content, too!

[@janekalmes]

Glad you’re enjoying the content!

[@melissajohnson4881]

Ny y ÿyyy

[@melissajohnson4881]

Y y y77 y

[@Pals_Place]