Screenwriter / Narrative Designer for an interactive detective project

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 10 days

Hello, Kateryna!

I am ready to collaborate with you. Although I have not worked with detective quests and have not played them, I have what it takes to do well:
1. dozens of read detective novels, many of which are classics
2. extensive experience in proofreading and editing, particularly books
3. even more experience in writing questions for "What? Where? When?" and quizzes
4. initial steps in writing. I have already finished one detective story.

I will answer your other questions.

Books, movies, or detectives that I think have the best-constructed intrigue: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," "The Endhouse Mystery," "The Quick Grave," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

Give a brief answer to a hypothetical situation...
It won't be brief, as there can be many options.
1. a person slipped out of the crew because they saw someone they didn't expect to see and really wanted to talk to. Perhaps a loved one.
2. saw their significant other with someone else, their positions or glances left no doubt about the relationship.
3. when the crew stopped, allowing another crew or crowd to pass, an abductor approached or pulled the person out or forced them with threats, or a hypnotist, whom the person followed under hypnosis.

I am ready to sign an NDA and start working soon. Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 1 day

An interesting project, I would like to become a participant. I am well-versed in detective themes, having read numerous novels from noir classics to more modern ones like Jo Nesbø.
Regarding the survey:
1. 41 years old, over 10 years in copywriting, my main profession is a history teacher.
2. I do not have examples of relevant work, but I have experience in storytelling, writing scripts for YouTube, and regular SEO copywriting.
3. I respect Rex Stout; from films, I can name "The Usual Suspects."
4. Logically, in this case without mystical influence, it is a banal kidnapping. Other circumstances may depend on other aspects of the plot; perhaps the person fled because they were threatened at the meeting.

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 4 days

I am interested in your project, so I would like to suggest reviewing the videos based on my scripts (in English, I can send a translation):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2x4UufVmTE&t
https://youtu.be/9f-8kPcoaxc?si=e_cfjc9mWeFveYGk
https://youtu.be/s2x4UufVmTE?si=-nLYNZVoF_ks8RQt
https://youtu.be/6YFFn8FlR3E?si=mxVsh2F3kp4CeRR8 (my favorite story, although YouTube did not promote it much)

All the stories on the channel are my authorship, you can evaluate the level of narrative. My main principle in work is to capture attention instantly and maintain dynamics. No fluff, long introductions, or boring pauses. Every detail, every frame, or line of text must serve one purpose: to keep the audience's focus tense and not let them get bored for a moment.

From films and books, I highly value "Gone Girl" (2014) based on the eponymous work, as the creators made a perfect psychological thriller. Right in the middle of the film, the plot takes such a twist that the story of the missing wife turns into something completely different, a chilling movie.

Another favorite story is the book "Rock, Paper, Scissors" by Alice Feeney, where we see events only through the memories of characters that constantly contradict each other and force you to reconstruct the picture in your mind. It masterfully doses information in short bursts, cutting off each scene mid-sentence with micro-hooks. No long descriptions, just the effect of a multi-layered riddle that you can never fully piece together.

Regarding the disappearance of the passenger, I would suggest the following version: a secret escape of their own volition right during the journey. Since at that time the crews (carriages) moved slowly on inclines or crossroads, a person could discreetly jump out while in motion to stage their own abduction, avoid an unwanted encounter, or debts. The driver, who sat outside on the box and only looked ahead at the road, physically could not see or hear what was happening inside the closed carriage.

This is especially likely if it was a woman. In 1854, a woman legally belonged to her husband, so a legal escape was impossible, and she had to act like in a spy detective. She could have bribed the driver in advance or waited for a long uphill stretch where the carriage slowed to a crawl, quietly slipped into the darkness, and left the empty carriage to continue on. The man waiting for her at the destination opened the door and found only an empty seat — while she was already buying a train ticket under a different name. Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 5 days

I was very inspired by the vacancy — developing detective drama and interactive mechanics is a field in which I work with great enthusiasm and excitement.
Brief information about me
I am a screenwriter and narrative designer. I specialize in building narrative tension, developing detective lines, creating intricate twists, and fixing logical gaps. I have practical experience in writing dramatic, mystical, and detective scripts, as well as adapting plots for interactive and serial formats.
In working on a project, my main goal is not just to embellish the text, but to build "iron" logic and give the reader the feeling that they themselves, through their own reasoning and analysis of clues, have solved the case.
2. Books and films with the best-constructed intrigue
"Murder on the Orient Express" "Ghosts in Venice" "The Island of the Damned" "Primal Fear" "The Bunker" "The Body" "The Hostages" "The Invisible Guest" "Seven"
A person disappeared from the carriage directly during the journey, although the carriage reached its destination.
In 1854, carriages traveled over cobblestones or dirt potholes without soft suspension. If the door was poorly secured, a strong jolt on the road could cause a passenger to fall out (especially if they felt unwell or leaned out the window).
Check if luggage and a suitcase were left in the carriage. If the items are in place — this confirms a fall or an attack; if the items are missing — it was a planned escape.
Reconstruct the carriage's route and find the section of road with the most severe potholes or sharp turns, where a passenger could have fallen out / where the carriage could have been attacked.
Interview the coachman (due to the rumble of the wheels and cobblestones, he might not have heard the noise of the door opening) and find witnesses along the road. Expand

Budget: 1900 UAH Deadline: 4 days

1854. The carriage changes horses at the post station, and these are the only few minutes when no one is counting it. A person gets out there, while their suitcase and a fellow traveler arrive at the destination, who will sincerely confirm that the neighbor slept the whole way. The disappearance works for the alibi. While he is supposedly on the road, something happens in the city that cannot be tied to him.

The most honestly constructed intrigue I know is "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd": the reader is never lied to, and that’s why the ending works. Nearby, I have "Sleuth" from 1972, where each new truth cancels the previous one, and "The Name of the Rose" with a solution that depends on who is even allowed to read.

I write texts and run my own projects with a fictional world and rules of canon. I have no finished detectives in my portfolio, so I won’t offer anything similar.

Is the ending already fixed, or can it be changed as well? This determines whether we are treating separate holes or restructuring the case.

I will provide an analysis of the plot with a list of inconsistencies, options for closing them, and a set of interactive tasks based on evidence from the case.

1500 UAH, 4 days. Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 1 day

Good day! 🧡
I am ready to start working and would be happy to help with minimal deadlines 😉
I have experience working on similar projects. 🌼 (I have reviews on this topic and work in my portfolio)
I will do it in the best way possible and will start now! 🚀🛸✈️

Feel free to write, and we can discuss. I respond instantly!

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 4 days

Hello. Your project is interesting, and I would be happy to work with you.

But I must honestly admit: my experience in this area is still limited; I am just starting my journey in screenwriting, authorship, and writing. I understand that against experienced authors, my chances may seem lower, but perhaps my perspectives will be of interest to you.

Regarding the situation of the passenger's disappearance in 1854:
Plot setup and motive:
At the meeting, there were people directly interested in ensuring that the passenger did not arrive. They planned his abduction halfway. Since the first (real) coachmen would have seen the attackers and been unwanted witnesses, they were abducted along with the passenger.

Next, execution and substitution:
To remove suspicion from themselves and deliver the carriage to its destination exactly on schedule (creating the illusion that the passenger "vanished without a trace" during the journey), the organizers hired second coachmen "blindly" - they were given a convincing legend: the first coachmen supposedly fell ill on the road, making it impossible for them to work, so they were picked up halfway and sent to the hospital, while the carriage was left unattended in the middle of the road. The task of the second coachmen was simple - to pick up the abandoned carriage and deliver it to the destination for a good payment.

Upon arriving at the stop, the second coachmen saw only an empty carriage. Not suspecting any crime, they simply did their job and delivered the carriage to the meeting.

Why this would work wonderfully for a detective game and investigation mechanics:

Psychological deadlock during interrogation: When the detective begins to interrogate the second coachmen, they genuinely get confused and consider themselves innocent. They truly know nothing about the passenger, as they received an already empty carriage.

Searching for clues (Deduction): To expose the scheme, the player must find small details: the absence of a record in the local hospital's logs about "sick coachmen," traces of the second carriage at the substitution site, or a special coin used to pay the second coachmen.

Exposing the client: The unknown person who hired the coachmen and introduced himself as a "traveler" disappeared but might have left a clue (for example, a specific smell of tobacco, a rare accent, or a distinctive detail of clothing) that will later point to one of the meeting participants. Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 6 days

I will complete the work myself - I do not pass it on to others. I will start immediately. Examples Freelancehunt

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 3 days

Good day. I would like to propose my candidacy. A brief about myself:
– professional writer (see portfolio);
– I have experience writing a detective novella on commission (I can provide a link if there is interest).
Detectives that I liked:
– Agatha Christie, "Murder of Roger Ackroyd" and "And Then There Were None"
– John le Carré, "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold"
– Umberto Eco, "The Name of the Rose."
An example of events leading up to the mysterious disappearance of a passenger from the carriage:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E8sHjpB9Pq-DVTvZi-uUd3BX9MopIJ3pXAMiXO5Ml6I/edit?usp=sharing
Everything else – in private messages.

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 1 day

Hello!
First of all, I would be extremely interested in working on such a project, as I also really love the detective genre.
As for my advantages, I have a 12-year experience as a copywriter and a little experience in critical editing of literary works, as well as familiarity with the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Georges Simenon.
The work that needs to be highlighted is hard to choose - let it be the film "The Visit" by director Shyamalan.
As for the carriage... the passenger escaped on his own: first, he hid under the seat, where the confused coachman did not think to look for him, and he left the carriage when it went to report the passenger's disappearance to the police.

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 3 days

Hello, Kateryna! I am excited to take on the narrative design and plot development of your interactive detective project. I am well acquainted with the classics of the detective genre (Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, G. K. Chesterton) and modern products with deductive mechanics ("Knives Out," Sherlock Holmes Series, Her Story). About me and my approach: I specialize in creating structured storylines, eliminating logical gaps, and developing organic detective quests (working with documents, physical evidence, codes, and fact tables). Response to the test situation (1854, disappearance of crew members): A logical explanation without mysticism: The crew was transporting a hidden valuable cargo or an important passenger under a false name. The disappearance was a planned staging by the crew in collusion with the client. During a stop at an intermediate station (or due to a simulated breakdown in the forest), the crew switched to pre-prepared horses/another cart along with their belongings, leaving the empty vessel to continue moving by inertia or with the help of a trained horse. This allowed them to buy time, throw off pursuers, and create the illusion of a "mystical disappearance," while they themselves were already heading to the port under different documents. Portfolio: https://nazaryanch.netlify.app/ I am ready to sign an NDA and immediately start analyzing the materials!

Budget: 4000 UAH Deadline: 7 days

Good day!

I would like to propose my candidacy for consideration. I am a philologist (Ukrainian/Russian), I write poetry and prose, translate texts, have some experience working with short scripts, and I love clever (logical) detective stories, humor, and horror.

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The books of Edgar Allan Poe – the founder of the detective + horror genre.

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue": the first classic detective story in history, where the brilliant detective August Dupin uses logical analysis to solve the brutal murder of two women in a locked room.

"The Purloined Letter": a subtle psychological novella about the search for a secret letter hidden in plain sight.

"The Gold Bug": an adventurous riddle about deciphering an ancient pirate cipher to find treasure.

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The novels of Georges Simenon – the entire cycle with Maigret. Because he is a great, intelligent, logically thinking person, outwardly confident and cold-blooded, yet internally soft and subtle.

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The works of Stephen King – for the intelligent and harmonious combination of detective and horror. The cycle with Holly Gibney – the main character in some of his novels.

"Holly": she investigates a series of mysterious disappearances of people in a quiet town.

"The Outsider": an investigation into the brutal murder of a boy. The main suspect has an ironclad alibi, being in two places at once.

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The film by François Ozon "8 Women" based on the play by Robert Thomas.

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An example of events leading up to the mysterious disappearance of a passenger from the carriage: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j6gi2aUuQRfuW7WGFR06KJPzykdPFC3T/edit Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 5 days

Good day.
I am interested in your project. I have experience working with scripts and story development, where logic, intrigue, and maintaining attention play a key role. I love the detective genre and especially appreciate stories where the reader receives all the necessary clues, yet the resolution is still surprising.
I can not only refine the plot but also suggest unconventional plot solutions, identify logical weaknesses, and integrate interesting interactive mechanics. I work with reasoning and am ready for an NDA.
The best-constructed intrigue:
The film "The Game" 1997.
The film "Enemy of the State" 1998.
The film "The List of Adrian Messenger" 2015.
The story by Robert Sheckley "Hunting Problem," 1955.
Response to the situation of disappearance (1854):
I propose several unconventional explanations:
1. The passenger fell asleep and fell out of the carriage, losing consciousness. When they came to, the carriage had left. The person had to look for options to arrive at the meeting place on time.
2. The passenger went to the restroom and, on the way back, confused the carriage. When they came to, the carriage had left. The person had to look for options to arrive at the meeting place on time. Or they simply arrived at the destination peacefully and unexpectedly quickly.
3. The passenger could have left the carriage during the mandatory night change of horses at the post station. Using the same clothing as the travel cloak and the darkness, they blended in with other travelers or carriage staff, and the companions only noticed their absence after arrival.
4. The passenger is not a real person but a hired double who was to impersonate the actual participant in the meeting all the way but disappeared to prevent the negotiations from being disrupted. The real participant had been in the destination city for several days, waiting for the right moment. The disappearance was staged to create an alibi and divert attention from the figure who was to appear at the meeting.
5. The passenger left the carriage at the previous station, bribing the coachman, and only their belongings remained in the carriage.
I will send examples of my work in private. I would be happy to discuss the details of our collaboration. Expand

Budget: 20000 UAH Deadline: 5 days

Hello! I have a higher philological education, experience working as an editor in publishing, and over 3 years of practice in copywriting. I always approach texts as a systems architect: I not only "write beautifully," but also check the plot for viability, logical "gaps," and the rhythm of information delivery. I have a strong passion for the detective genre, which allows me to think in terms of "mystery — clue — twist."

About my preferences: I see the best construction of intrigue in Agatha Christie ("Murder on the Orient Express" — a benchmark of closed space) and the modern film "Knives Out" (a masterful deconstruction of clichés). I also appreciate the logic of Conan Doyle, where every detail is part of a larger deductive mosaic.

Solution to the situation (disappearance from the crew in 1854): Let's assume the crew was moving through a narrow stretch of road or under overhanging branches in twilight. The person who disappeared had a significant reason to leave unnoticed (for example, to adjust the luggage fastening or pick up a dropped item on the step). At the moment the crew passed a certain marker, the person jumped off, but miscalculating their strength or due to a slippery road, got injured and remained unconscious at the roadside. Since the driver was focused on steering and the passengers inside were conversing, no one noticed the difference in the weight of the carriage. The person did not "disappear"; they physically remained on the road, making their disappearance a logical consequence of the incident, not a mystery.

What you will gain from our collaboration:
- In-depth work on the logic of the plot (identifying "blind spots" in the detective line).
- Information distribution (gradual "feeding" of the player with evidence).
- Interactive mechanics: turning dry facts into investigative tools (codes, comparison of testimonies).

I am ready for a detailed discussion of your project. I have experience working with narrative architecture and am prepared to justify every change in the plot. Expand

Budget: 5000 UAH Deadline: 1 day

I have over three years of experience in copywriting and more than 1000 successfully created texts. I work in Ukrainian, English, and German (B2 level, DSD II certificate). My experience includes creating and adapting texts of various formats: informational articles, advertising articles, landing pages, posts, reviews, letters, outreach, as well as translations, rewriting, and editing.
I am familiar with modern approaches — SEO, LSI copywriting, prompt engineering. In my work, I use tools for checking text uniqueness and quality: text.ru, text 1 com, Content Watch, Advego, EduBirdie, DupliChecker, Small SEO Tools, eTXT, PR-CY, StealthWriter, Grammarly, istio, zeroGPT, Google Docs, Excel, Word, Canva, Gamma, ChatGPT, Gemini. I also create meta tags (Title, Description).
My texts are characterized by structure, conciseness, and professional language. I can quickly find, analyze, and systematize information.

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 7 days

Hello, Kateryna!

I am interested in your proposal, and I would like to learn more about the project. To start, please clarify:
What is the total length of the script and the number of episodes?
What interactive elements already exist, and which ones need to be developed from scratch?
Are there specific examples of detectives that you consider ideal in style and intrigue?

I have experience in writing scripts and interactive stories, and I also love classic detectives, particularly the works of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle. My approach involves a deep analysis of the plot: I focus on logical connections and intrigues that keep the reader in suspense until the very end.

I am ready to propose unconventional solutions that will enhance the drama and help integrate interactive tasks into the plot. My goal is to create a story that not only captivates but also allows the reader to actively participate in solving the detective mystery.

Regarding the hypothetical situation: "Year 1854. A person disappeared from the crew." Possible explanation: they may have gone ashore to prepare for a meeting but did not return because they witnessed something that required their intervention. This could have been related to secret affairs that they could not disclose.

I am ready to collaborate and sign an NDA to receive additional materials. I look forward to your responses! Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 7 days

Good day, I will be glad to cooperate. The answer to the test question: an accident occurred. The door latch of the carriage was worn out or poorly secured. Due to constant road jolting, the metal tongue of the lock gradually slipped out of its groove. At high speed, the crew hit a deep pothole with the wheel. From the powerful jolt, the faulty door swung wide open. The sleeping passenger was thrown to the side. Not finding any support, he simply flew out of the carriage while it was in motion. The passenger lost consciousness, or possibly memory. The coachman only heard the dull thud of the wheel hitting the pothole, which blended with the general rumble of the wheels and iron rims on the road. At the destination, when the carriage stopped, the doors were closed from another jolt. Regarding the drama in books, I mentioned Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I noted the rate as you did, but I will be able to say definitively after seeing the material.

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 3 days

Good day, Kateryna!

I am truly interested in your project. What I like most is that you are looking for not just a copywriter, but a person who works with the logic of the story, dramaturgy, intrigue, and interaction with the reader.

I have experience in writing scripts, working with storytelling, building plots, analyzing the logic of stories, and finding unconventional solutions. In my work, I enjoy asking questions, identifying weak points in the plot, and suggesting options that make the story stronger.

I would be happy to sign an NDA and complete a test task.

A brief about myself: I am a screenwriter and copywriter, working with commercial and creative projects. I love detective stories, psychological drama, and plots where every detail matters.

Detectives that I consider exemplary in building intrigue:

Arthur Conan Doyle — stories about Sherlock Holmes;
Agatha Christie — The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, And Then There Were None;
Knives Out.

Response to the situation:

The most elegant solution is one that does not require any physical impossibilities and is based solely on a false assumption of the witnesses.

During a brief stop (changing horses, post station, etc.), the passenger discreetly leaves the carriage, and his place is taken by another person of similar build in the same cloak and hat. The surroundings see only a silhouette, so they are convinced that the person continues the journey. Only upon arrival does it become clear that the real passenger disappeared much earlier.

In my opinion, the main intrigue should not lie in the method of disappearance, but in its motive. For example, the hero realized that the meeting at the destination is a trap and deliberately staged his disappearance.

I believe this is the principle of a good detective: the reader is mistaken not because something impossible happened, but because they misinterpreted a perfectly ordinary detail.

I would also like to clarify a few points:

What is the estimated volume of work and format of collaboration?
Is this a one-time project or intended for long-term cooperation?
How is the payment system structured and what is the estimated budget of the project?
Is joint work on the plot with the client anticipated, or does the screenwriter work more independently?

I would be glad to discuss the details of our collaboration.
Sincerely, Yuriy Expand

Budget: 2000 UAH Deadline: 2 days

Hello, Kateryna!

I am interested in the project, as the detective genre requires iron logic and a clear structure, not just beautiful text.

I have experience in narrative design and working with interactive plots. I liked that you already have a solid foundation — this will allow us to get straight to the point.

How I can help your project:
• Plot audit: I will find logical gaps, "holes" in timelines, and inconsistencies in character motivations.
• Dramaturgy and deduction: I will help place clues (evidence) so that the reader/player has a chance to guess just one step before the resolution (the Fair-Play principle of detective stories in the spirit of Christie and Doyle).
• Interactive mechanics: I will develop task concepts (document analysis, decryption, fact matching, interrogations) that are naturally woven into the plot, rather than appearing as artificial puzzles.

I am ready to start with a brief analysis of the first introductory part, so you can evaluate my approach to structure.

I would be happy to discuss the details in private messages! Expand