Summary

The article discusses the varying degrees of violence and bloodshed in crime novels, emphasizing the importance of matching the level of graphic detail to the story's genre and plot requirements.

Abstract

The content delves into the nuances of depicting violence in crime fiction, noting that the appropriate amount of blood and gore depends on the specific crime sub-genre. It distinguishes between reported, witnessed, implied, and graphic violence, each requiring different levels of descriptive detail. The article advises crime writers to consider the necessity of violent scenes to the plot, the accuracy of the logistics involved, and the potential impact on the reader when crafting scenes of violence. It also suggests that writers should tailor the intensity of violence to their own comfort levels and the needs of their narrative.

Opinions

The level of blood and violence in a crime novel should be consistent with the type of crime being portrayed.
Not all crime novels require explicit violence; the genre encompasses a range of sub-genres with varying expectations for graphic content.
Violent scenes must serve the plot and be technically accurate, necessitating research by the author.
Authors have the freedom to decide the level of violence in their stories, but they should consider whether they are comfortable with graphic descriptions and if such descriptions align with their story's direction.
The depiction of violence in crime fiction can vary from being told about an event to witnessing it firsthand in vivid detail.
The choice of how much violence to include is a significant one, as it can dictate the plot's progression and the overall tone of the story.

How Much Blood Do You Need In A Crime Novel?

That depends on the type of violence

Photo Creation by to Stormseeker for Unsplash

Are you a crime writer? Have you asked yourself how much blood is too much or not enough?

So much depends on what type of crime you are writing about. If it is white-collar, then, probably not as much as you would in a gang fight.

Not all crime novels need gory scenes, but if you have weapons, someone is going to get hurt.

How do we answer this question: How much blood do you need?

Crime fiction is huge and is often characterized by two characters who are on opposite sides, (often, but not always) of the law.

Some examples include thief vs cop, murderer vs private investigator, kidnapper vs parents, con artist vs internet sleuth, serial killer vs medical examiner, hacker vs cyber-crimes unit.

There can be multiple types of scenarios, the levels of violence will also vary. Consider the fact that Murder She Wrote and True Detective are both considered crimes.

This is where we start working with sub-genres. The level of description will vary from sub-genre to sub-genre. There are multiple ways to describe violence.

Reported Violence

Here, your characters talk about the event and maybe give the reader some graphic scenes, but not so much that we see exactly what happened.

Witnessed Violence

This could be where the characters and readers show up after the fact. It is up to you to show how much violence took place and what we see.

Implied Violence

In this case, we rarely see a body. We may see the edge of a puddle of blood or a limp hand, a body bag, or a flutter of crime scene tape. We know what happened.

Graphic Violence

Here is where we let it all hang out. We see everything and observe the violent act. In these scenes, readers are usually present when a violent act is being committed. They may be the perpetrator or have the viewpoint of the witness or even the victim.

Writing Violent Scenes:

1. Is the violent scene important to the plot?

2. Are the logistics correct. This is a technical issue and you should do some research so you get the scene right.

3. You need to do your research here. If you are hurting a person or an animal, what happens? Are they so injured they die? Why?

4. Make sure you have the use the weapons in your book. You can be sure someone reading your book knows about guns you have in the scene.

5. It is up to you to decide how violent the scene is. If you are squeamish, maybe you want to switch genes.

You are in charge of your story and how violent it gets. Does the violence dictate your plot? How much violence is necessary to move your story forward? These are the questions you need to address.