The Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymus Bosch, fragment — **The Garden of Earthly Delights,** *Hieronymus Bosch, fragment*

Hi Funbakers,

You might have guessed that Silent Streets is story-driven. So getting the story right was critical – as well as agreeing on what makes it good. Here are a few ingredients we came up with (except for the secret one of course).

Large-scale mystery

The good old X-files style, minus the waiting for 9 years and 202 episodes to learn what it’s all about.

Recognizable characters

The know-it-all pub owner, the knuckleheaded police inspector, the evil mastermind of the slums, you name it. Stereotypes? Sure! And we truly believe the player needs them to feel at home. Conveniently accompanied by true-to-life portraits for a stronger effect.

Solid plot

Remember that irritating feeling of “Ohmygod, why did the scriptwriter made the character behave so weird” when you leave a movie show? We hate those moments too, and tried to make events coherent and believable. For instance, in the Snowport of 19th century you can only treat severe pain with a highly addictive painkiller, which is sure to destroy your personality and might lead to horrible crimes (sorry Sherlock).

Consequences and trade-offs

Be polite and friendly to Inspector Gage – and gain access to a useful file from his drawer. Undermine his authority – and tread the warpath (no casualties usually). Cooperate with Mr. Demalion – and get a reputation bonus with the crime circles, but be prepared to get suspicious looks from citizens. And remember to always order a pint at the Rose’s place – thirsty or not. The latest rumor might come in handy for your investigation.

Extensive knowledge of the setting

Ice harvesting (and trade) was a big thing in the 19th century, with ice delivered in thousands of tons as far as India and Australia – and many a shilling in Snowport comes from the keep-it-cool business. Just as it should be with a town that’s freezing all year round.

Brief and clear writing style

Stephen King said it all in On Writing. We are only humble followers.

Humor

Dark and subtle, sometimes just an ironic note. As Gage puts it, Someone’s going to do the Tyburn jig for this, and you’ve not taken your dancing shoes off just yet.

Sex

It’s the spices that make Heinz a Heinz rather than a tomato mash. Come on, you don’t want a virgin detective.

That’s all for now. Next time we’ll tell you how we found our writer Richard Cobett and show a bit of backstage work on the script of Silent Streets.

Be good, bake fun,

The Silent Streets Team

Good Writing Ingredients or How to Bake Your Story