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.
The decision to write from your antagonist’s point of view isn’t just about giving readers access to the villain’s thoughts—it’s a structural choice that fundamentally alters the architecture of your psychological thriller. Every time you shift into the antagonist’s perspective,...
The choice of narrative perspective can make or break a crime novel. Whether you opt for the intimate voice of first person, the flexibility of third person, or the complexity of multiple viewpoints will fundamentally shape how readers experience your story and how effectively you can deliver the essential...
The red herring stands as one of crime fiction’s most essential yet treacherous tools. Deploy it skillfully and you’ll keep readers guessing until the final pages; mishandle it and you’ll leave them feeling manipulated and betrayed. The difference between fair play and cheap tricks...
Pacing the crime novel is the difference between readers turning pages compulsively and abandoning your book halfway through. The rhythm of revelation, tension, and release determines whether your carefully plotted murder mystery becomes a page-turner or a paperweight.
Across eighteen series and more...
The conspiracy thriller presents a unique challenge: how do you weave together multiple threads of deception, betrayal, and hidden agendas without losing your reader in a maze of confusion? The genre demands complexity—readers expect layers of conspiracy that unfold gradually—but that complexity must...
The Art of Breaking Character: Why Most Crime Writers Fail at Interrogation Scenes
The interrogation room is where characters reveal their true nature under pressure—yet most crime writers treat it as mere exposition delivery.
Nothing exposes amateur crime writing faster than a poorly executed interrogation...
The interrogation scene is where crime fiction writers either master their craft or expose their amateur status—no middle ground exists in this crucible of literary tension.
Too many crime writers treat the interrogation as a plot device rather than recognizing it as the genre’s most potent weapon...
The crime scene discovery remains fiction’s most overwritten moment, where promising narratives collapse under the weight of their own theatrical ambition.
Too many crime writers mistake volume for impact, drowning their most crucial scenes in purple prose and emotional excess. The most effective...
The interrogation scene remains crime fiction’s ultimate test of narrative craftsmanship—where amateur writers reveal their weaknesses and masters demonstrate why some stories grip while others merely recite.
Every crime novel lives or dies by its interrogation scenes. These pressure-cooker moments...
The choice between crafting a standalone thriller and developing a series novel fundamentally alters every structural decision you make as a writer. These aren’t merely different approaches to the same goal—they demand entirely different architectural thinking about character development, plot...
The series detective presents one of crime fiction’s greatest challenges: how do you maintain a character’s essential nature while allowing genuine growth across ten or more novels? Too little change and readers grow bored with predictability; too much transformation and you risk losing the...
The cold case novel presents unique structural challenges that separate it from straightforward police procedurals. Unlike active investigations where events unfold in real-time, cold cases demand writers juggle dual timelines while maintaining momentum across decades-old evidence trails. The central...