--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To write a good mystery you have to know…" description: "\"To write a good mystery you have to know where it will end before you can decide where it will begin... and I've always known where it will end.\" — D. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/d-j-machale-2-32623_always_to-write-a-good-mystery-you-have-to-know_2515028.jpg" --- # To write a good mystery you have to know where it will end… ![“To write a good mystery you have to know where it will end before you can decide where it will begin... and I've always known where it will end.” quote by D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/d-j-machale-2-32623_always_to-write-a-good-mystery-you-have-to-know_2515028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/d-j-machale-2-32623_always_to-write-a-good-mystery-you-have-to-know_2515028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/d-j-machale-2-32623_always_to-write-a-good-mystery-you-have-to-know_2515028.jpg) > “To write a good mystery you have to know where it will end before you can decide where it will begin... and I've always known where it will end.” [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective storytelling requires envisioning the conclusion first, then crafting the beginning to lead logically toward that end. **In simple terms:** Know the ending to shape the beginning. Key Takeaway Plan the ending before starting the story. Themes storytelling planning structure creativity foreshadowing Mood strategic creative Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenplay development - game design - marketing campaigns Key Concepts narrative design goal orientation reverse engineering Questions to Reflect On - How can flexibility be retained after fixing an ending? - When is improvisation beneficial? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-mystery-1194476/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-end/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-end-1194477/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Mystery Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery-know-1194475/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I mean, maybe under the surface, somewhere that's hard to see, I've known it had to end for a long time. I just never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/i-mean-maybe-under-the-surface-somewhere-that-s-hard-to-see-i-ve/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [“If I had known it was the end, would I have done it any different?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-warren/if-i-had-known-it-was-the-end-would-i-have-done-it-any-different/) [Frank Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-warren/) > [Life is full mystery, we do not know what will happen for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/life-is-full-mystery-we-do-not-know-what-will-happen-for-tomorrow/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Life is the greatest mystery. You never know where it will take you and when it will end](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/life-is-the-greatest-mystery-you-never-know-where-it-will-take-you/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [We don't like mystery. You like mystery, 'cause it's not a mystery to you; you know when you're gonna get laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/we-don-t-like-mystery-you-like-mystery-cause-it-s-not-a-mystery-to/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [There's a reason for everything, you said, and though it's a mystery to me now, I know it won't always be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sherwood/there-s-a-reason-for-everything-you-said-and-though-it-s-a-mystery-to/) [Ben Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sherwood/) > [I don't promise to forget the mystery, but I know I'll have a marvelous time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-keene/i-don-t-promise-to-forget-the-mystery-but-i-know-i-ll-have-a/) [Carolyn Keene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-keene/) > [I do like a good mystery. I'm reading Edgar Allan Poe now. I also like autobiographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/i-do-like-a-good-mystery-i-m-reading-edgar-allan-poe-now-i-also-like/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [Conflict and character are the heart of good fiction, and good mystery has both of those in spades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/conflict-and-character-are-the-heart-of-good-fiction-and-good-mystery/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [We've always been fans of a good mystery; we think all kids are, and there weren't any good mysteries out there these days for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/we-ve-always-been-fans-of-a-good-mystery-we-think-all-kids-are-and/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [It's not that I don't enjoy a good mystery that comes and goes in a hour. I do, but God, 'Breaking Bad' and 'Saul'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-banks/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-enjoy-a-good-mystery-that-comes-and-goes-in-a/) [Jonathan Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-banks/) > [In the good mystery there is nothing wasted, no sentence, no word that is not significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/in-the-good-mystery-there-is-nothing-wasted-no-sentence-no-word-that-2/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“...Don't insult readers by questioning the extent of their imaginations. Most need only to be nudged to solve a good mystery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-kopman-owens/don-t-insult-readers-by-questioning-the-extent-of-their-imaginations/) [Peggy Kopman-Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-kopman-owens/) > [“Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?” she asked. My answer: “Not sure, but maybe on a beach reading a really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/where-do-you-see-yourself-in-ten-years-time-she-asked-my-answer-not/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“A good mystery keeps you up on Saturday night. A bad mystery puts you to sleep on Sunday afternoon. Either way, you come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/a-good-mystery-keeps-you-up-on-saturday-night-a-bad-mystery-puts-you/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) ## More by D. J. MacHale > [There are two types of people in this world. People who hate clowns...and clowns. (Bobby Pendragon)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-hate-clowns/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [“I'm not sure if he physically changes, or if he uses some kind of mind control to make you think he looks different, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/i-m-not-sure-if-he-physically-changes-or-if-he-uses-some-kind-of-mind/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [Perhaps you should bite me", Bobby Pendragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/perhaps-you-should-bite-me-bobby-pendragon/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [It is much more fun to write about villains then heroes. The villains are the ones that think out the scheme, and the heroes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/it-is-much-more-fun-to-write-about-villains-then-heroes-the-villains/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [There will be no more protests. No more dissension. No more violence. There will be only one voice. The voice of Ravinia. The voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/there-will-be-no-more-protests-no-more-dissension-no-more-violence/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [My life is an ongoing, ever changing adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/my-life-is-an-ongoing-ever-changing-adventure/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [Who's Heinz and what's an accordion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/who-s-heinz-and-what-s-an-accordion/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [A screenplay is really a blueprint for something that will be filmed. Therefore you must always keep in mind that whatever you write is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/a-screenplay-is-really-a-blueprint-for-something-that-will-be-filmed/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [“Hobey-ho here we go…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/hobey-ho-here-we-go/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [Storytelling is storytelling. Good stories need compelling characters and interesting conflicts. That's the bottom line no matter what medium you're writing for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/storytelling-is-storytelling-good-stories-need-compelling-characters/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [I'd love to play the piano, and I'm going to work on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/i-d-love-to-play-the-piano-and-i-m-going-to-work-on-it/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [I saw the horrible way that people could treat each other. That may be the saddest thing of all. I saw greed and anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/i-saw-the-horrible-way-that-people-could-treat-each-other-that-may-be/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [To write, you need to find what you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/to-write-you-need-to-find-what-you-love/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [The single best piece of advice I give to aspiring writers is to always write about things that they know. I suggest that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/the-single-best-piece-of-advice-i-give-to-aspiring-writers-is-to/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) [Explore all 15 D. J. MacHale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To write a good mystery you have to know where it will end before you can decide where it will begin... and I've always known where it will end.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D. 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