If your cash is running out fast and you have an incessant need to write, why not turn to crime?
No! Not committing crime, but to writing about crime. Crime is all around us, and people want to know about it. Don't believe me? Turn on the five o'clock news, Lifetime TV or USA TV Network. You'll see true crime stories run rampant across television schedules. True crime on television is the number two genre (next to romance). And guess what? Someone has to write those movie scripts--might as well be you.
Many movies are adapted from books. Again, someone has to write those books. It's legal, profitable, and downright intriguing.
You ever wonder, when you're watching the news, "How could she be so stupid?" or "Didn't they know they were living with a maniac?" I do, it's only natural. In fact, I think we feel it could never happen to us.
But, crime can happen to any one of us. That's where true crime writing comes in. It answers the questions in story form.
For instance, we have learned that kids believe 'strangers' are ugly and 'scary-looking'--like monsters. But we know that's not accurate, so we teach our kids that a stranger can be good looking, well educated, and considerate. We can tell them about Ted Bundy (without the violence) and show them a picture if we really want to make the point. Many surviving crime victims often say that the person was so nice; they never suspected he could be capable of such destruction. We know this because we were told a story either in verbal, written, or picture form.
If true crime writing interests you, begin by searching local newspapers for stories. Don't search across the country, unless you are independently wealthy! Anytime you see an article that looks interesting, clip it and put it in your 'true crime clippings' file. If there are more articles about the same crime, then you know it is intriguing enough to warrant your attention. Still... it does not mean it is enough for an entire book. To discover the answer to that question will take research.
Do you have a fascinating criminal? Is the crime random, or was the victim chosen for a reason? Is the place of action special (was it at Disneyland, for instance)? Can you write about a totally different lifestyle than what we know? Is the criminal a member of MENSA? Is she dressed up as a clown when she commits her crimes? Is the victim the first woman space rocket engineer? Perhaps the victim is a deaf child. All of these facts increase the story's public interest and can take us into a world we have never been in before.
Are there subplots in the crime (not only did he murder his best friend, he also barged into his friend's family life and became like another son, then he robbed them one night, and then...). These questions will help you decide if you have a story worth considering?
True crime writing is lucrative and actually a challenging kind of fun. It is about combining journalism with novel writing. Nonfiction with fiction. If you have what it takes -- determination, time, and a strong stomach -- you can take up this as a career and soar.
About The Author
Nithya K is a India-based writer who specializes in writing fiction and has tremendous interest in writing non-fiction related to science, technology and other genre. She is also experienced in creating technical documentation. Basically a BE graduate with an MBA degree, her main focus is still writing. Nithya is also interested in Ghost writing of books and articles in the areas of business writing, technical writing, science and technology writing and fiction.
The author can be contacted at tutor19us@yahoo.com and also invites readers to visit her webpage at tutor19us@yahoo.com
top rated cleaning service Lake Forest ..In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More
No one is born a novel writer. But do you... Read More
This article is to help identify which style, technique or... Read More
What is a freelance grant writer? These individuals have a... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?You are plotting the story. You write... Read More
Having trouble finding a solution to a nagging problem? Try... Read More
The following rules are essential if you want people to... Read More
Want to write a how-to article but can't come up... Read More
Editorial guidelines, also known as writer's guidelines, are the rules... Read More
Open up your favorite calendar and circle today's date.Why? Because... Read More
Have you ever wondered how you can adapt your screenplay... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
During my 25-year career in a variety of professional positions... Read More
Verb and SubjectIncorrect:"I bet you two had a fine time,"... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
Not long ago, I went to an Internet Marketing Seminar.... Read More
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More
The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More
1. Turning your idea into a bookWith non-fiction books the... Read More
We've all heard a politician on their soapbox, pushing for... Read More
Congratulations on writing your first book. That is quite an... Read More
insured cleaning company Morton Grove ..What is Sense of Place? It's the image of a... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
I recently set up a website to promote a new... Read More
Do you suffer from writer's block? Is there a pending... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
Writers are notorious collectors of slips of paper. They tear... Read More
A writer can never be self indulgent whether writing fiction,... Read More
Have you been guilty of procrastinating on your book project,... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
Picture this scene.Your hero is sitting in a bar. He's... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
I've seen it time and again. One of the most... Read More
We've all seen those ads that grab our attention and... Read More
Your query letter can be a deal maker or a... Read More
Peter Mayle was born in England in 1939.His fascination with... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
Almost everyone could profit from enhancing their writing skills. From... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
Writing |