Have you ever taking part in a scavenger hunt? Racing against your friends to find all of the items on your list was exhilarating. Bringing that type of exhilaration into your writing can be accomplished with a hidden item type of mystery. Think of a hidden item mystery as a treasure map. You have a starting point, with twists and turns that take you through the different places you have to go until you find the treasure.

Hidden item mysteries usually start with the hero/heroine finding something that motivates them into action. This item can be anything from a written document to an inanimate object to a living creature. Just about anything can be a clue as long as it means something to your characters.

Examples of locations are:

Time capsules. Used to save items for future generations make great hiding places. A confession to a crime, or a long-lost will, would make excellent motivators for a character.

Secret Rooms: Many old homes have secret panels and rooms, places our ancestors used to hide things and even people at times. Even a modern hidden room would make a great hiding place. What about a room installed a home before the owner died. That could be a wonderful thing for the new owner to find.

Hidden Compartments: Clocks, drawers and cabinets are only some of the places you might find a compartment to find something. They are simple to make, easy to use, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Attics, Basements and Sheds: While not as exciting as some of the other places, do not forget these well-known places to hide secrets. Boxes of forgotten things and buried items are great mystery starters.

Finding a place to hide your clue will depend on the kind of story you want to write, and the characters you are writing about. You will want to know what your hiding place looks like, so you can relay it to your reader well.

Examples of items are:

Letters, Diaries and Documents: Your heroine could find a written accounting of an event, or a map to an undisclosed location to get your plot moving. Family secrets revealed can also get your characters motivated to solving a problem.

Photographs and Drawings: Finding a photograph of a known family member with someone unknown would be an interesting start to a story. I imagine anyone would wonder who that man with Mother was and why she looked so happy with him.

Family Heirlooms: Finding mother's ring, or that pocket watch grandfather always had with him, would make a good start to a mystery story. Some old jewelry had secret compartments to hide small notes or special items. And do not forget the jewelry box for hiding more clues.

Use your imagination. Just about anything can be used to start or move a story along. Think about some of the mysteries you have read like this. What kinds of items were found, and where? You are only hindered by your imagination.

Hiding personal things is not a new concept. The Secret Drawer Society has been hiding messages in the cracks and crevices of hotels in New England for over one hundred years. To this day, you can find messages from past guests - from accounts of daily activities to ghostly sightings to confessions of crimes. Even guests today leave notes tucked inside the walls and ceilings of these hotels.

So next time you write a mystery, consider a hidden item or secret room - you never know where it will lead.

Dawn Arkin
http://darkin.Writing.Com/