Welcome to my newsletter!

How To Craft Intriguing Mystery, Suspense, & Crime Thrillers

Greetings, fellow mystery lovers, Reader,

Assuming you are one.

I’ve been teaching my latest "... Write The Crime" master class in writing mysteries, and I've been having a blast.

The event is where we delve into the art of creating compelling narratives intended to keep readers on the edge of their seats. During the first two days, we explored different ways of building the structure for your crime stories. From mapping out the crime framework to understanding the motives of your characters, here’s a summary of what we covered:

1. Building the Frame: To plot a crime story effectively, start by setting the crime framework. Know the how, where, and who of the crime, as this will help you strategically place clues for your investigator to unravel later. While planning the crime, be meticulous and think like the criminal. Set the value of the goal, material or otherwise. Consider the details, loopholes, and potential mistakes. This attention to detail creates a more realistic and engaging experience for your audience.
2. Motive and Means: Ensure that the motives of your perpetrator make logical sense and are justifiable in their minds. Realistic human motivations, even if morally flawed, add depth to your characters and make your plot more believable. Explore what the culprit stands to gain and why they are willing to risk so much. Understanding their motives and *means is critical to crafting authentic and engaging narratives. (*The resources and time to pull off the crime.)
3. Relationships: Examine the relationships between your characters in the story. Understand why they are together, what causes friction, and the reasons for their hatred or affection towards each other. Knowing and showcasing these dynamic relationships helps create well-rounded and relatable characters. Motives may emerge from these relationships, adding another layer of complexity to your storytelling.
4. Locations: Visualize the locations and settings of your story. Drawing from your experiences or using places you know well can bring a sense of authenticity and emotional connection to your storytelling. Describing the environment, sensory details, and nuances of a particular location adds depth to your scenes and helps readers immerse themselves in the story world.

Remember, every detail counts in crafting an intriguing crime story. By carefully constructing the frame of your narrative, considering motives and means, exploring relationships, and visualizing locations, you can captivate your audience and keep them guessing until the very end.

If you have questions or need further guidance, please contact me at GoWriteForIt@gmail.com.

I’m always here to help you to get it… WRITE!

By the way, these techniques work in any genre. I'll touch on that next time.

Meanwhile, stay curious.

Best,
​Alex Simmons

#TellTheDamnStory #WritingCommunity #Storytelling #CreativeWriting #AuthorLife #Inspiration #EthicsInWriting #PodcastDiscussion #mysterywriters #suspense #thrillers

Have any writing questions and challenges?

​​​​

3959 Saxon Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​