crime writing is something that many people struggle with. The reason is that there are some aspects of crime, including how to solve a crime, that you simply can't make up. In real life for real investigators, there are processes that they have to follow to get to a certain answer. For example, they have a process to lift fingerprints, another process to find a DNA match and a third process for investigating a possible witness. There are things that you, as the author, cannot stretch, fake or simply make up. When you are writing a crime novel, you may run into scenes or chapters that require some Research, especially if you want to include scenes from a laboratory or an interrogation.
While there are many ways to conduct research for your novel, there are some things you should do to avoid writing a vague scene that your readers can see right through. You want to write with a credible authority, and not guess what a process could be. According to a report by Book Marketing Tools, you need to focus your research to get the most credible kind for your novel.
Get focused
When you start doing research for your crime novel, make sure you know what you need to research. Chances are you don't need to research how to write your novel. Instead, you may need to research certain scenes to see how they unfold in real life. When you know what you need to research, you are able to go deeper into the research.
For example, if you know that you want to include an interrogation scene in your novel, book an interview with a former detective to see if you can learn some strategies. Another option is to read a book about interrogation tactics.
What to look for
You don't want to take the information straight out of the book. You want to make it work for your scene.
If you add too many details, it will sound like you are trying to prove to your reader that you know what you are talking about. You don't need to convince your reader that something is right. You simply need to write it in such a way that it makes sense in your story. You want the research to flow and not interrupt the mood you are trying to create, whether you are revealing the DNA match to your killer in your who-done-it book, or reaching the climax in an interrogation scene.
If you truly struggle to make it work, try writing the scene in several ways with different kinds of research and get a few people to read it. You may be surprised at what your readers truly enjoy.
What kind of research do you do when you are planning your crime novels? What tips and tricks would you want to pass on to other authors?
