Writing Tips - Codes and Puzzles

At Story Club today, we explored ideas on how to write codes and puzzles into a story.
For example a simple, cryptic piece of text where each first letter of each word spells something else. But not too obviously …
For example, in Element Girls: The Lost Goddess, a text is sent:
“Hello. Everything is groovy. Love. Peace.”
The Girls realise it doesn’t quite sound like their friend Amelia and puzzle over it … until they crack the code. Help!
In Paddington 2 or Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans, a map leads the characters and the reader through a hunt for clues.


The Alethiometer in Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials is a wonderful example of using a code. Each symbol has multiple meanings — strung together, one must be clever or intuitive to find the message. This reminded me of runes.

A few story clubbers created their own ‘rune’ code with each symbol meaning multiple things. Others created more straight-forward code with each symbol meaning one word. We also had disappearing ink (washed away) that uncovered a true meaning ... and a dragon’s riddle.
I found everyone’s ideas inspiring as ever, and can’t wait to read any stories that sprung from today. 

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