Now, in the present tense

Writing in present tense is the reality TV of literature. You can tune into Big Brother at any time and begin watching the action. People like action, so why not tell a reader what is happening, as it is happening? You see it real time, you are in the thick of the...

Why is Detective Fiction so popular?

The brain is a puzzle solving machine. Give the brain a problem and it will automatically try to find a solution. We are all puzzle solvers by nature. Whether it’s a jigsaw or a Rubik’s cube, we will inherently look to solve puzzles and problems set before us. I can’t...

I, and the first person

I am going to tell you a story. Have I got your attention? He might tell it to you the story better than me, but I was involved, so I will tell you. After I have told my story, perhaps you will tell it better. You might be good at telling stories yourself. However,...

The making of a crime writer

Crime writing is no different than any other writing. Sure, you need a good mystery, a lot of tension; life and death situations, high stakes that keep readers turning the pages, and more, but in the end, it is — as any other writing genre is — all about characters....

Pace it off (pacing in storytelling)

Pace it off (or why pacing is important in storytelling) When you are writing, one of the most important factors to note is pace. That is the balance between action-packed sequences and more slow-moving explorative sequences. There’s no perfect recipe — it...

Whodunit? (an article on Crime Fiction)

Any fiction best seller list will almost certainly contain at least a few crime fiction novels. With a huge number of fans both young and old it is a seriously popular genre. With such a long-lasting and universal appeal, what has made crime fiction so popular? While...