| If your cash is running out fast and you have an | | | | If true crime writing interests you, begin by searching |
| incessant need to write, why not turn to crime? | | | | local newspapers for stories. Don't search across the |
| No! Not committing crime, but to writing about crime. | | | | country, unless you are independently wealthy! |
| Crime is all around us, and people want to know about | | | | Anytime you see an article that looks interesting, clip it |
| it. Don't believe me? Turn on the five o'clock news, | | | | and put it in your 'true crime clippings' file. If there are |
| Lifetime TV or USA TV Network. You'll see true crime | | | | more articles about the same crime, then you know it |
| stories run rampant across television schedules. True | | | | is intriguing enough to warrant your attention. Still... it |
| crime on television is the number two genre (next to | | | | does not mean it is enough for an entire book. To |
| romance). And guess what? Someone has to write | | | | discover the answer to that question will take |
| those movie scripts--might as well be you. | | | | research. |
| Many movies are adapted from books. Again, | | | | Do you have a fascinating criminal? Is the crime |
| someone has to write those books. It's legal, profitable, | | | | random, or was the victim chosen for a reason? Is the |
| and downright intriguing. | | | | place of action special (was it at Disneyland, for |
| You ever wonder, when you're watching the news, | | | | instance)? Can you write about a totally different |
| "How could she be so stupid?" or "Didn't they know | | | | lifestyle than what we know? Is the criminal a member |
| they were living with a maniac?" I do, it's only natural. In | | | | of MENSA? Is she dressed up as a clown when she |
| fact, I think we feel it could never happen to us. | | | | commits her crimes? Is the victim the first woman |
| But, crime can happen to any one of us. That's where | | | | space rocket engineer? Perhaps the victim is a deaf |
| true crime writing comes in. It answers the questions in | | | | child. All of these facts increase the story's public |
| story form. | | | | interest and can take us into a world we have never |
| For instance, we have learned that kids believe | | | | been in before. |
| 'strangers' are ugly and 'scary-looking'--like monsters. | | | | Are there subplots in the crime (not only did he murder |
| But we know that's not accurate, so we teach our | | | | his best friend, he also barged into his friend's family life |
| kids that a stranger can be good looking, well | | | | and became like another son, then he robbed them |
| educated, and considerate. We can tell them about | | | | one night, and then...). These questions will help you |
| Ted Bundy (without the violence) and show them a | | | | decide if you have a story worth considering? |
| picture if we really want to make the point. Many | | | | True crime writing is lucrative and actually a challenging |
| surviving crime victims often say that the person was | | | | kind of fun. It is about combining journalism with novel |
| so nice; they never suspected he could be capable of | | | | writing. Nonfiction with fiction. If you have what it takes |
| such destruction. We know this because we were told | | | | -- determination, time, and a strong stomach -- you can |
| a story either in verbal, written, or picture form. | | | | take up this as a career and soar. |