I am still in the process of cleaning out my files and have come across the following piece, written early in my career but still a good reference tool for me.

Notes to Myself on How to Begin a Mystery Novel

1. The doorbell rang.

2. It was a dark night. Not too stormy.

3. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was pay day.

4. Before I entered the courtroom, thirteen years of twisted, abusive, tender love flashed before me like an emotional molotov cocktail, and I knew that, both for her sake and for mine, I could never put Tiffany Lammp on the witness stand (see Not So Cocksure About The Legal Thriller).

5. You had to be there.

6. Hi. My name is Betsy Detective, and I have the sweetest little ole job in Franklin Mint, Tennessee.

7. The doorbell rang again.

8. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

9. Martha, the "tweenie," was dusting the rich scarlet brocade curtains just before the members of the house party were awakened for chocolate when she happened to glance out the second story window and spotted the pyjama-clad body of Sir Charles, face down in the ornamental lake, floating softly as a caress of down feathers in the Thornburn Estate chicken coop (see the Stockroom).

10. I always leave the phone off the hook when I'm not working on a case; makes potential clients think I'm busy and in demand.

11. Last night I dreamt I was at Fire Island again.

12. Will somebody get that #$%##@*& doorbell?