Crime Fiction Writing Guides
Craft guides on plotting, suspense, dialogue, and character — from Phillip Strang, author of 150+ crime novels. Practical techniques from the writing desk.
Writing multiple crimes in one novel presents a fundamental structural challenge: how do you maintain narrative tension across separate investigations without fragmenting the reader’s attention or diluting the impact of each crime? The temptation is to simply alternate chapters between cases, but...
The MacGuffin represents one of crime fiction’s most potent yet misunderstood plot devices. Whether it’s stolen diamonds, classified documents, or a missing person with dangerous secrets, the MacGuffin becomes the engine that drives characters into conflict and propels your narrative forward....
The twist that leaves readers gasping yet nodding in recognition represents the holy grail of crime fiction writing. Too many contemporary thrillers sacrifice reader trust for shock value, pulling solutions from thin air rather than the carefully planted evidence that makes fair play possible. The best...
The ticking clock remains the most reliable mechanism for generating sustained tension in crime and thriller fiction, yet most writers deploy it crudely, treating deadline pressure as a simple countdown rather than a sophisticated tool for character revelation and plot acceleration. Real deadline pressure...
The traditional three-act structure feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole when you’re plotting a proper investigation. Crime fiction demands the methodical build and release that mirrors how real investigations unfold, with their false leads, breakthrough moments, and the critical pivot...
The three-act structure gets pushed on crime writers like a universal cure-all, but does this Hollywood-born framework actually serve the unique demands of mystery, thriller, and procedural fiction? Most writing guides treat it as gospel, yet many successful crime novels break its rules without consequence.
Across...
The bloodied knife has been bagged, the witness statements taken, and your detective has left the crime scene. What happens in the next chapter determines whether your reader stays engaged or starts checking their phone. These quiet moments between the explosive beats of murder and revelation are where...
The moment your crime thriller’s action sequence reads like stage directions, you’ve crossed the line from novelist into frustrated screenwriter. Action in crime fiction demands a delicate balance between visceral momentum and literary depth, creating scenes that pulse with energy while maintaining...
The slow burn thriller presents one of crime fiction’s greatest challenges: maintaining reader engagement without the immediate gratification of explosive action or shocking revelations. Unlike fast-paced thrillers that rely on constant momentum, the slow burn demands a more nuanced approach to...
The distinction between reader fear and character fear represents one of the most fundamental yet misunderstood aspects of crime fiction craft. Too many writers conflate these two entirely different emotional engines, believing that terrifying their protagonist automatically translates to terrifying...
Crime fiction thrives on violence, but the genre’s most compelling moments often emerge not from the act itself, but from the wreckage it leaves behind. The true test of a crime writer isn’t crafting the perfect murder or chase sequence—it’s capturing the authentic weight of loss that...
The darkest crime stories demand moments of levity, not as comic relief but as narrative necessity. Without these carefully placed touches of humour, readers suffocate under relentless grimness, and characters become one-dimensional vessels for plot advancement rather than believable human beings who...