Crime Writing - Week 1

On Saturday I started a short course on Writing Crime Fiction and I promised my friends I would write my notes here so they can also have access to them.

Our teacher, who is a published crime writer, started by breaking down the areas that come under the umbrella term CRIME. They are as follows:

Mystery:
80,000 ish words

Police Procedural – any location, must have police officer/detective as main character.
PI – Private investigator (usually ex-cop or military police) – can’t investigate a current open case. Can go places that police can’t.
Amateur – Professional (Harry Dresden) or John/Jane Citizen (Miss Marple)

Cozy/malice domestic – always has closed list of suspects and NO blood splatter type crimes. Always puzzle driven.
Capers/Heists/Kidnappings – bad guy perspective, possible comic or comic look at today’s society.

Suspense:
100,000 + words

Thriller
Legal
Medical
Political
Technological
Military
Spy

Suspense
Psychological
Romantic suspense
Female in Jeopardy

Action/Adventure – quest based, search for treasure

3 components to a crime story:
- The crime itself (always at the very heart of the story)
- The character/sleuth
- The Setting (can be an invented place)

Always start with a crime scene.
Victim
Place
Time
Weapon
Clues/Red Herrings


Set up a table of suspects. Suspects across the top and the following list down the side:

Relationship to victim
Alibi
Motive
Opportunity
Other Details

Whatever you do, don’t forget the victim.
Ask yourself what happened to make them the victim?

What could be left at the crime scene, be it deliberate or just overlooked by the criminal?

Till next week.