Who done it? That’s what you’ll be inviting readers to find out when you write crime fiction, but the clues should be there and good editing will make sure of that!
Writing crime fiction
Crime fiction has many subgenres. From police procedurals to cozy crime, they all have their own tropes and idiosyncrasies that you, as the writer, should be aware of. But all good crime books have the same three key elements:
- A strong, carefully crafted plot
- Memorable characters
- Tension and drama to keep the reader hooked
A strong plot
Surely all books have to have a strong plot, right? Of course they do! But in other genres, readers aren’t always on the hunt for clues, suspects and suspicious activity. Every word you write, every twist you take, every character you introduce needs to be working towards taking the reader to the heart of the crime.
To do this, you need to plan! I work with one author who delivers me as much planning as writing when I edit their crime fiction. It’s important to know everything about the victim, the suspects, the crime and those doing the detecting (it could be the police or an enthusiastic amateur).
A weak plot with holes is going to disappoint the reader and won’t take them on the adventure with your sleuths. You’ll need to do your research. Make sure that everything happens in the way it should, and you’ll need to think very carefully about what crime is actually going to be committed.
Read more about how to plot a crime novel on the National Centre for Writing’s website.
Memorable characters
Whether it’s a set of grannies, a private investigator with a shady background or a police officer with a grudge, your story needs a strong main character to lead the investigation.
They’ll need some support, of course, along with a host of suspects. Whether you have one or multiple victims is down to you, but don’t forget they all need to be real characters – fleshed out, real people with backstories and relationships with one another.
Victims often get overlooked – especially if they are murdered early on. It’s important to think about their character, even if they don’t say much for the rest of the book! Why were they killed, who is left behind, what impact does their death have?
Tension and drama
Crime novels are filled with twists and turns. As a crime writer, you need to take your readers down the rabbit holes with your main characters, discovering red herrings and dead ends along the way. (Goodness, how many clichés can you fit in one sentence!)
Each twist should be about building the tension and the suspense for the reader, keeping them engaged until the very end. But we don’t want twists for the sake of it. Too many dead ends are boring and predictable.
Queer crime fiction
Crime fiction is seeing a growing number of LGBTQ+ characters. Queer detectives and sleuths abound and there’s no reason to stop them being the main characters of your next crime novel.
Be mindful of how you include LGBTQ+ victims, however. While these may be important stories to tell, doing so insensitively can perpetuate stereotypes and harmful cliché.
Developing crime fiction
If you come to me in the early stages of the process, a developmental edit will help you to create a manuscript that is structured well and takes your readers on the journey with your characters.
A developmental edit is going to address a number of potential issues within your manuscript.
The crime
As a developmental editor, I will help you look at all aspects of the crime: the victim, the method, the clues and the reveal. Working with you, we will develop the crime so that it is sensitively written and engaging from the very beginning.
Crime novels depend so much on the crime it is crucial that, at the developmental editing stage, this is worked on. Depending on your subgenre, this will vary as cozy crime novels require something very different from police procedurals or legal thrillers.
The characters
As always with a developmental edit, getting the character right is key. Your main character, usually the investigator, needs to hold the story and the readers’ attention. Getting the right backstory, flaws and a strong character arc is key.
As is getting the protagonist right. Whether they are taunting the investigator or they are an unknown force, having clear motives for the crime and a relatable and troubled backstory is key.
Developmental editing won’t neglect your supporting cast, either. You’ll need a strong group of characters to hold the readers’ attention and provide some red herrings along the way.
The plot
Developing the plot is about ensuring that every twist, turn and clue revealed is moving the story forwards and holding the readers’ attention. As the editor, I take a step back and look at the whole picture, finding ways to streamline the plot, if it’s overly complex, or add in some potential twists and turns along the way.
The plot has to be followed by readers and so developmental editing keeps this in mind. If your plot is too complex, readers may lose interest, be confused, or simply give up with your book. Editing is about finding the right balance.
Copyediting crime fiction
Copyediting is the stage where your writing is polished and made ready for the reader. I take the text of your book and work with it sentence-by-sentence, addressing everything from spelling, punctuation and grammar to overall sense and flow.
I like to break copyediting down into these five C’s:
- Consistency
- Clarity
- Conciseness
- Correctness
- Conscious language
Creating a bespoke style sheet for your book, I will ensure that all style decisions, spelling variations, numbering systems, etc. are consistent across the book.
Copyediting is also the stage where I ensure that your book is clear for the reader. I review every sentence to make sure it makes sense and that your writing is concise and to the point. If the crime or the solving of it aren’t clear, it’s going to put off the reader and they are not going to enjoy your writing.
If you are including queer characters and situations, it’s important that these are handled well with language that suits. As an LGBTQ+ specialist, this is something that I can support you with at the copyediting stage. For example, ensuring the language around homophobic crimes is handled sensitively and authentically to the time period.
Once copyediting is complete, your text should be almost ready for your readers. After typesetting and formatting your book, a proofread will check for any last typos or errors and then you are good to go!
What fantasy fiction books have I worked on?
Here’s some of the fantasy novels I have worked on and that I can share with you here.
Nick (he/him) is an experienced, professional editor and proofreader, specialising in LGBTQ+ writing. Use this form to get in touch right now!
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