Best first paragraph: Chandler
If you want to write a great first paragraph to your crime novel, take a look at how Raymond Chandler did it. Here’s the best first paragraph …
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Best first paragraph: Hammett
What’s the best first paragraph in crime fiction? Dashiell Hammett was a great crime fiction stylist. Here’s the best opening to one of his novels. …
How scared should your readers be?
How to write a crime novel, episode 20 You might think your job as a crime writer is to make your readers as scared as possible. In fact, you have to …
5 prompts to start your crime novel
How to start a crime novel, episode 19 If you’re stuck, here are five prompts to start your crime novel. 5 prompts to start your crime novel …
The hero-on-the-run mystery
How to write a crime novel, episode 18 How do you write a hero-on-the-run mystery? It has been a popular formula at least since 1915 when John Buchan …
Write your crime fiction hero
How to write a crime novel, episode 17 The hero of a crime fiction novel is the most important element of the book. Here are seven things you need to …
Top 7 mystery writing checklist
How to write a crime novel, episode 16 You’re writing a crime novel. Here’s my top 7 mystery writing checklist to make sure it’s a …
How to use point of view
How to write a crime novel, episode 15 How do you use point of view in your crime novel? And, importantly, how do you avoid misusing point of view and …
How to write dialogue
How to write a crime novel, episode 14 I’m going to give you five tips on how to write dialogue in a crime novel. Or any other novel, for that …
How to end your crime novel
How to write a crime novel, episode 12 The days are gone when you could just have your detective character gather everyone in the library and point …
Elmore Leonard’s Rules for Writing
How to write a crime novel, episode 11 Elmore Leonard was a great crime novelist. He left us books like “Get Shorty” and “Be …
Why you should plot your crime novel
How to write a crime novel, episode 10 Lots of writers don’t plot their crime novels. That’s a bad idea, but they just write and figure it …