A Rather Necessary Introduction
Before we delve into the exquisitely detailed mechanics of writing like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I must share something rather fascinating: the art of capturing another writer’s voice is rather like solving one of Holmes’s cases. One must observe the minutiae, deduce the patterns, and then – most crucially – reconstruct the methodology with scientific precision.
The Fundamental Architecture of Doyle’s Prose
1. The Strategic Deployment of Language
The Vocabulary Palette
Let’s be frightfully specific about this. Doyle employs what I shall call a ‘three-tier vocabulary system’:
- Tier One: The Foundation Words These are your everyday Victorian expressions that create the period atmosphere:
- ‘singular’
- ‘remarkable’
- ‘elementary’
- ‘pray’
- ‘indeed’
- ‘perhaps’
- ‘rather’
- Tier Two: The Professional Lexicon Words that establish Holmes’s expertise and the scientific nature of his work:
- ‘deduction’
- ‘observation’
- ‘hypothesis’
- ‘analysis’
- ‘data’
- ‘evidence’
- ‘methodology’
- Tier Three: The Atmospheric Enhancers These are the deliciously specific terms that paint the Victorian world:
- ‘hansom cab’
- ‘gaslight’
- ‘telegram’
- ‘Scotland Yard’
- ‘consulting detective’
- ‘Baker Street irregulars’
2. The Architecture of Sentences
Now, here’s something absolutely fascinating about Doyle’s sentence construction. He employs what I call the ‘Victorian Sandwich Method’:
- The Upper Crust: A strong declarative statement
- The Filling: Supporting details and observations
- The Lower Crust: A conclusion or deduction
For example: “It was perfectly obvious, my dear Watson [upper crust], from the distinctive wear pattern on his boot heels and the peculiar clay residue beneath his fingernails [filling], that our visitor was a left-handed potter who frequently worked late into the night [lower crust].”
The Mechanics of Mystery Construction
3. The Seven-Layer Narrative Structure
This is absolutely crucial, and I’m rather excited to break this down:
Layer One: The Domestic Opening
Always begin in Baker Street. Always. It’s like starting a symphony with a familiar melody before the complexities begin. Holmes is typically:
- Lounging in his chair
- Performing chemical experiments
- Playing his violin
- Reading telegrams or newspapers
Layer Two: The Inciting Incident
This arrives in one of three forms:
- A desperate client arrives unannounced
- A puzzling telegram or letter
- Lestrade appears with a baffling case
Layer Three: The Initial Exposition
Here’s where Doyle employs his masterful technique of ‘graduated revelation’:
- The basic facts are presented
- Holmes interrupts with penetrating questions
- Small details are revealed that seem irrelevant (but aren’t)
Layer Four: The Investigation Begins
This typically involves:
- A journey to the scene of the crime
- Initial observations and deductions
- Interviews with witnesses
- Collection of physical evidence
Layer Five: The Red Herrings
Doyle was absolutely brilliant at this. He would introduce:
- Seemingly suspicious characters
- Apparent motives that don’t quite fit
- Evidence that points in the wrong direction
- Local theories that sound plausible but aren’t
Layer Six: The Gathering of Threads
This is where Holmes:
- Conducts specific experiments
- Consults his encyclopaedic knowledge
- Sends telegrams to gather information
- Deploys the Baker Street Irregulars
Layer Seven: The Dramatic Revelation
The solution is presented in two parts:
- The explanation of the method
- The explanation of the motive
4. The Art of Clue Deployment
This deserves its own detailed examination. Doyle employed what I call the ‘Three-Distance Rule’ for clue placement:
Foreground Clues
These are obvious to everyone:
- The footprint in the flower bed
- The broken window
- The threatening letter
Middle-Distance Clues
These are noticed but not understood:
- The dog that didn’t bark
- The half-eaten meal
- The misplaced book
Background Clues
These are mentioned but not highlighted:
- The state of the weather
- A casual remark by a servant
- The time of the train schedule
The Character Architecture
5. The Holmes-Watson Dynamic
This relationship is built on several crucial elements:
Watson’s Functions:
- The Narrator: Providing a relatable viewpoint
- The Foil: Making Holmes’s brilliance more apparent
- The Question-Asker: Allowing natural exposition
- The Action Man: Providing physical courage and medical expertise
- The Emotional Core: Humanising Holmes’s cold logic
Holmes’s Characteristics:
Professional Traits:
- Precise observation
- Logical deduction
- Encyclopaedic knowledge
- Scientific method
- Physical prowess
Personal Quirks:
- Cocaine use
- Violin playing
- Poor eating habits
- Mood swings
- Disdain for emotion
The Technical Elements
6. Scene Construction
Doyle’s scenes are built like architectural masterpieces:
The Setting Elements:
- Weather conditions
- Time of day
- Specific location details
- Ambient sounds
- Lighting conditions
The Atmospheric Components:
- Social context
- Historical background
- Class distinctions
- Professional hierarchies
- Victorian propriety
The Interactive Elements:
- Character positioning
- Physical movement
- Dialogue placement
- Action sequences
- Observation opportunities
The Language of Deduction
7. The Structure of Holmes’s Deductions
This follows a precise pattern:
- The Observation Statement “I observe, Watson, that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post Office this morning.”
- The Incredulous Response “How on earth did you know that, Holmes?”
- The Detailed Explanation “Elementary. The red clay on your boots is distinctive to that particular street, currently under repair. The stamp adhesive on your right thumb and the bulge in your waistcoat pocket suggesting recently purchased postal orders complete the picture.”
Practical Application
8. The Writing Process
To effectively capture Doyle’s style:
- Research Phase
- Study Victorian London
- Understand period technology
- Learn contemporary social norms
- Master period-specific vocabulary
- Planning Phase
- Construct the mystery backwards
- Plant clues systematically
- Develop red herrings
- Create supporting characters
- Writing Phase
- Begin with atmosphere
- Build tension gradually
- Maintain period authenticity
- Include scientific elements
- Revision Phase
- Check period accuracy
- Verify clue placement
- Ensure logical consistency
- Polish Victorian dialogue
A Final Observation
The absolute brilliance of Doyle’s writing lies in its perfect balance of elements: logic and emotion, science and adventure, detail and pace. It’s rather like conducting a complex chemical experiment where each element must be precisely measured and combined in exactly the right order.
To truly write like Doyle, one must become both a scientist and a storyteller, a historian and a dramatist, a logician and a poet. It’s about creating a world where the impossible becomes probable, where the mysterious becomes explicable, and where the game is perpetually, gloriously afoot.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I hear Mrs Hudson’s step upon the stair, and by the urgency of her tread, I deduce we’re about to embark upon another adventure…
