How to write a crime novel, episode 16
You’re writing a crime novel. Here’s my top 7 mystery writing checklist to make sure it’s a good book. These aren’t necessarily the most important things. I deal with structure and all those nuts and bolts in other videos–check them out on the blog. But these are things you really need to think about.
The top 7 mystery writing checklist
- It’s not an essay. Things happen…
- …but it’s still about something. Know what that is
- Character arc. Every character must change
- How does the hero feel during the chase?
- Avoid the genius hacker sidekick. It makes things too easy for the hero
- The bad guy must be really bad
- Use a “ticking clock” to set a deadline for the hero, and keep reminding them–and the reader–about it
Watch the video on Instagram or Tiktok. Follow my socials for more writing videos like this one.
How to use point of view