Free Mystery & Branching Dialogue Worksheets (PDF) | EpicScribe
Free printable and editable planning worksheets for mystery writers and interactive fiction authors. No signup or payment required.
Mystery Clue & Red Herring Tracker
Give every clue a fair introduction and a deliberate payoff.
- Truth before misdirection: Story / central mystery: Culprit, motive, method, and opportunity: What really happened, in chronological order: What the reader must know before the reveal:
- Clue ledger — repeat for each clue: Clue ID / physical fact: Scene introduced / who notices it: Initial interpretation: True meaning / competing explanation: Who knows what, and when: Later scene that tests the clue: Payoff / resolution scene:
- Red herring ledger — repeat for each lead: Misleading fact (must still be true): Why it looks suspicious: Innocent explanation: Evidence that clears it / scene resolved: What this lead changes for the investigation:
- Fair-play revision check: Was the decisive evidence available before the reveal? Does the solution follow from evidence, not motive alone? Can each suspect physically fit the timeline? Are all red herrings explained? Which clue changes meaning on a second read?
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Worked example: the missing museum seal
TRUTH: Mara takes a brass seal at 14:12 to stamp a forged loan form. She returns it to the wrong drawer at 14:18.
CLUE C1: At 14:05 the curator photographs the seal in a felt-lined tray. At 14:20 Jo finds a fresh circular ink mark on Mara's loan form. Initially Jo assumes it is an old stamp. A dated wet-ink transfer on the blotter ties the form to that afternoon; the seal's chipped rim matches the impression.
RED HERRING R1: Leon leaves with a heavy tool bag at 14:15. It seems large enough to hide the seal. In scene 4, his repair log and the mechanic's receipt account for the replacement hinge inside.
PAYOFF: In scene 6, Jo compares the fresh impression with the chipped seal found in Mara's drawer. Opportunity and the matching mark support the accusation; Mara's need for money alone would not.
REVISION: Show the chipped rim and blotter before scene 6. Establish who can reach the drawer. Resolve Leon's bag before the final accusation.
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Branching Dialogue & Consequence Planner
Plan meaningful choices without losing track of story state.
- Conversation contract: Scene / player goal / NPC goal: Starting node / exit nodes: What can change (access, trust, knowledge, promises): What the player knows before choosing:
- State dictionary — repeat per variable: Variable / type / default: Allowed values / what each value means: Where it is read: Where it can change: Reset rule / repeat-visit rule:
- Node and choice card — repeat per node: Node ID / entry conditions: NPC line / information revealed: Player choice label: Condition for showing this choice: Immediate response / state changes: Next node / alternate exit: Later consequence / payoff scene:
- Convergence and path test: Where branches rejoin: What differs after rejoining: Test path / initial state / choices / expected final state: Locked-choice and unreachable-node check: Repeat-visit / duplicate-reward check: Can the player understand the consequence?
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Worked example: access to the observatory
STATE: access = none (none, escorted, key); trust = 0 (0 or 1); repair_promised = false.
START: ENTRY. Iri wants access; Rowan must protect the observatory. Each option states its cost before selection.
CHOICE A: Explain the family connection. Rowan offers a supervised visit. Set access=escorted and trust=1; go to ATRIUM.
CHOICE B: Present a valid work order. Show only if the player has the order. Rowan logs the key. Set access=key; go to ATRIUM.
CHOICE C: Promise to repair the relay. Rowan explains that the repair must happen before an unsupervised return. Set access=escorted and repair_promised=true; go to ATRIUM.
CONVERGENCE: ATRIUM checks access: key holders can open the dome; escorted visitors wait for Rowan. If repair_promised, add a relay objective. Do not erase the agreement when branches merge.
TEST: From default state, A ends escorted/trust=1/no promise. B with a work order ends key/trust=0/no promise. C ends escorted/trust=0/promise=true. Without a work order, B is hidden. Returning to ENTRY routes to the existing agreement instead of granting another key.
NOTE: This is planning notation, not executable engine code.
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