Episode 57: Pamela Fagan Hutchins - Killing it with a Crime Fiction Series
Jun 23, 2023
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Pamela Fagan Hutchins, bestselling author, shares tips on writing a compelling crime fiction series. Topics include genre boundaries, crafting mysteries, creating master villains, and exploring different points of view in writing.
Crime fiction spans various subgenres from traditional mysteries to thrillers, with a focus on the underlying crime.
Protagonists in crime fiction series are driven by personal or professional motivations, creating complex characters.
Deep dives
Understanding Crime Fiction Genre
Crime fiction covers a wide array of subgenres, ranging from traditional mysteries to thrillers, legal thrillers, and spy thrillers. The genre revolves around an underlying crime that drives the narrative, engaging readers to question 'who did it, why, and how justice will be served.' Despite its diversity, crime fiction tends to lean towards darker and grittier themes compared to cozy mysteries.
Crafting Compelling Protagonists in Crime Fiction
Protagonists in crime fiction series typically include amateur sleuths or individuals involved in law enforcement or crime-solving professions. These characters are deeply motivated to solve crimes either due to personal stakes or professional obligations. Establishing a protagonist's backstory and motivations, including past traumas or conflicts, creates complex and compelling characters that drive the series forward.
Plot Development and Creating Twists in Crime Fiction
Developing intricate plotlines and incorporating unexpected twists play a crucial role in engaging readers of crime fiction. Authors carefully balance between revealing enough information for readers to follow along and keeping certain details concealed to maintain suspense. Twists often involve revealing the master villain gradually across a series, allowing for a mix of hidden antagonists and those in plain sight whose true nature unfolds progressively.
Pamela Fagan Hutchins, USA Today bestselling and Silver Falchion Best Mystery winning author of 24 mystery/suspense/thriller novels (Patrick Flint & What Doesn’t Kill You) discusses tips for writing a compulsively readable crime fiction series.
In this unedited chat, she answers questions and give actionable tips.
Listen in!
This is an unedited chat loaded with questions and answers. Listen in!
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