I was guest tutor on a Crime Writing weekend on Sunday. Leaving things to the last minute, I thought, what would I like to have known about crime writing before I sent off my first manuscript?
So I sent off this tweet in the morning:
And, within no time, this is what the brilliant hive mind of crime writers answered:
- David Hewson
Stay off the internet when they invent it. - Isabelle Grey
If, when you hit a dead end, you make your characters more complex, then plot solutions will follow. - Denise Mina
You will be expected to generate your own publicity content. - Fergus McNeil
Ensure each book has a compelling hook. 2. Don’t care too much about your characters. 3. Have lots of book-blogger friends. - Jane Lythell
[responding to Fergus] But you have to care about your #characters so that the reader believes in them. Agree it makes it harder to kill them off… - Laura Wilson
Choose a surname with a mid-alphabet first letter. - Elizabeth Haynes
It sounds inane but how about ‘you can do this’? - Cath Staincliffe
Read your work aloud. - Jon Courtney Grimwood
Experts are always surprisingly helpful. - MD Viliers
Finish the 2nd book before your 1st is published. I wish I’d done that! - Rebecca Whitney
Concentrate on the story first, then the genre. - Tamar Cohen
[Agreeing with Rebecca] Yes! And if yours doesn’t lend itself to genre don’t try to squish it into one. Oh, and take more risks. - Jane Casey
Seek out fellow crime writers; you can learn a lot. - Marnie Riches
My gem would be learn how to wait patiently. - Anya Lipska
Research is never a waste of time: it’s great material. - Adrian McKinty
Don’t quit your day job - Vanessa O’Loughlin/Sam Blake
Don’t let the words get in the way of the story. - Steve Cavanagh
Rejection is part of the game. - Martin Waites/Tania Carver
Don’t expect to become known overnight… or even after twenty years. - Claire McGowan
… the importance of hook and concept, I think. - Frances Brody
Don’t ask for advice till you’ve written it. - Neil White
Don’t order the yacht just yet. - John Rickards/Sean Creegan
If you’re going to back into a story, you’d better have a great-looking ass.< - Alison Joseph
That bit about two thirds through where you think – this is rubbish. It happens with every book. And every time it passes. - C. L. Taylor
Trust your gut instinct. If something about the story feels wrong it probably is. - David Mark
Put some money away for Tax! It saves a difficult conversation when your debut does well. “Tax? Why? I wrote it. No! But…. that’s not fair! I’ve spent it!” - Mel Sherratt
Always think the one you are writing is going to be the best book you’ve written. I learn with every new book. - Steven Dunne
The quality of your writing is as important as the quality of your plot. - Emlyn Rees
Read more Ira Levin and other 50s masters/mistresses. - William Shaw
People throughout the publishing work mostly for love rather than money and deserve respect. Don’t take your frustrations at not being an instant best-seller out on them. It’s not all their fault. Only some of it. - Melanie McGrath
Complex good, convoluted bad. Applies equally to plot and characters. - Susan Wilkins
Whatever story problem you have, stop thinking, go for a walk/do housework and your subconscious mind will solve it. - Simon Toyne
Turn up. That’s all you need to do – turn up and keep turning up. Everything else will eventually follow. - Sinéad Crowley
Don’t tell anyone you’re writing it until it’s finished. - P D Viner
Take yourself seriously. Be ambitious, plan to give up the day job and live by your imagination. Don’t self-censor or give in to the fears. - Jessie Keane
That you will need the hide of a rhino, the staying power of a Fell pony, and a ton of self-belief.
There you go. From the practical to the heartfelt. Thanks so much everyone for responding. I read out the ones that had arrived in time out to the would-be writers and they are wiser for it.
(They were also impressed by my ability to summon the instant opinions of such great writers.)