So You Want To Write About True Crime
Here is what you need to know
Are you a news junkie? Do you love reading about illegal events and cases?
You may be the perfect person to write about true crime. I’m not saying you are happy when a crime has occurred, but you may be someone who can tell a story.
If you have read about a crime in the news or know personally of a crime, you want to write about; first, you need to identify the key players. Is there a court case going on? Do you know anyone who was involved?
Quick questions to ask yourself
Is the crime old or new? Is it still in court and is it a story that will lend itself to a book? Are the players local to you? This helps in terms of your ability to meet them in person or visit them in prison.
Finally, once you have talked to the people involved, get a written contract that allows you to write about them. It’s called getting the “Rights.”
Why I write true crime
After years as a newspaper reporter and covering crime as part of my assignments, I became addicted to the topic. No, I wasn’t happy when people were hurt or killed. Instead, I became addicted to the stories about the people involved. I had nothing to do with the crimes, but I was responsible for researching and telling the stories.
To take on this exciting genre, you don’t have to be in the news business to take on true crime as a writer. They just learned how to do the research required to successfully write and get their books published.
As a true crime writer, it’s essential to maintain a balance between your personal interests in the subject and your responsibility to present a fair and accurate representation of the events. Research is a crucial aspect of writing true crime, and it’s essential to gather information from reliable sources and verify the accuracy of your findings.
It’s also important to remember that writing about real crimes and people can have emotional and ethical implications, so it is crucial to approach the subject with sensitivity and respect. While you don’t need to be a journalist to write true crime, it’s still essential to maintain high standards of journalism, such as avoiding defamation and presenting all sides of the story.
Next Steps
Once you have gathered all the information and written the book, it’s essential to revise and edit your work to ensure its quality and accuracy. Consider getting feedback from beta readers and professional editors, and seek legal advice to avoid any potential legal issues. Finally, you can consider publishing your book through traditional publishers or self-publishing and market and promote it effectively to reach your target audience.
These points are critical steps in writing a true crime book. To summarize:
- Research-Gather information from reliable sources such as court documents, news articles, police reports, and interviews with people involved or knowledgeable about the case. Maintain objectivity and avoid preconceived notions
- Legal implications — Be aware of the legal implications of writing a true crime book and avoid defamatory or libelous statements. Consider having a lawyer review the book.
- Writing and narrative — Craft a compelling story by paying attention to the narrative structure, pacing, and tone.
- Revisions and edits — Revisions and edits are critical to ensure the book’s accuracy, quality, and readability. Get feedback from beta readers and professional editors.
- Publishing and promotion — Consider reaching out to agents, publishers, or self-publishing the book. Marketing and promotion are also important aspects of the process.
By following these steps, you can write a compelling and accurate true crime book that will engage and inform your readers.
Also, consider the following:-
- Identify the key players involved in the crime, and determine if it’s a recent or an old crime and if it is still in court.
- Ensure that the story is suitable for a book, and check if you have access to the players in person or through prison visits.
- Treat the story with sensitivity and respect as you write about real people.
- Determine why you want to tell this particular story, as it will guide the narrative.
- Remember to focus on the victims, often women, and highlight their experiences and emotions.
- Ensure that the story is relevant to the present day and highlights important themes and issues.
- The themes of the best true crime stories have a real bearing on the present day.
- Never forget that you’re writing about real people.
- Sort out why this is the story you want to tell because that answer will often drive the narrative.