I get some really interesting questions when I teach my crime writing workshops.
Below, I’ve answered some of the most common questions writers have about crafting crime fiction. From building the perfect villain to avoiding forensic faux pas, some of these might help you make your crime stories more authentic, engaging, and totally binge-worthy.
Q: How do you start writing a procedural or crime drama?
A: Build the World, Solve the Crime First, Then Write the Story
For me, the world of the story comes first. Before I even start writing, I:
✅ Define the setting—Is it a big-city homicide unit, a small-town sheriff’s office, or a forensic lab?
✅ Create the logline—This helps me focus on the criminal’s motive, not just the hero’s journey.
✅ Develop the protagonist—Who is investigating? Why is that person the best one to tackle this case. And more importantly, why does this crime matter to them personally?
✅ Write a fictional case file—I pretend that I am the investigator and I create the whole crime scenario, including solving the crime first. This includes developing trails of evidence, all the best clues, a few red herrings, and investigative obstacles.
🔎 Jennifer’s Pro Tip: Reverse-engineering your crime will help you prevent plot holes and ensure your mystery is tight.. And move you more quickly through that second act slog!
Q: What’s a realistic way to knock out a villain without killing them?
A: Hollywood loves quick knockouts—but real life? Not so simple.
Here’s what doesn’t work like it does in the movies:
🚫 Chloroform – In reality, it takes 5+ minutes of inhalation to knock someone out, and even then, they might wake up sooner than expected.
🚫 One-punch knockouts – A single hit to the head might cause a concussion, but instant unconsciousness? Rare.
Guns & Bullets. Unless you are a well-practiced shooter, it can be a challenge at mid or long range to take down a person with a pistol or small handgun, especially a moving target.
What does work?
✅ Tasers – These can legally be purchased and cause temporary paralysis for 10-20 seconds. (Used in real-life kidnapping cases.)
✅ GHB (“date rape” drug) – One inhalation can cause extreme confusion and memory loss.
✅ A well-placed neck strike – A trained fighter might be able to render someone unconscious, but lasting effects can include long-term neck trauma.
🔎 Jennifer’s Pro Tip: If your character needs to subdue a villain, play up the realism—make them struggle, hesitate, or miscalculate. Give the villain a few well-placed hits or attacks. This adds to the tension of the scene.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes new writers make in the crime genre?
A: These 3 slip-ups can ruin an otherwise great crime story.
❌ 1. Not getting forensic facts right.
- Watching CSI isn’t enough. TV gets a lot wrong about real crime scene investigations.
- Forensics is a constantly evolving field. New technologies are being introduced on the regular.
- Fix it: Get a copy of Forensic Speak! It’s packed with over 300 forensic terms and 50+ real-world resources for crime writers.
❌ 2. Writing crime scenes that feel cliché.
- A dramatic discovery in the rain? The detective lighting a cigarette over a dead body? Crime fiction is full of overused tropes.
- Fix it: Focus on tension between characters that is unrelated to the case. Focus on the real investigative challenges on the scene rather than gimmicky drama.
❌ 3. Overloading scenes with forensic jargon.
- Your reader doesn’t need a full autopsy report—they need the emotional weight behind the findings.
- Fix it: Use technical details sparingly and let the investigator’s reactions shape the tension.
Q: Can digital forensics recover deleted Snapchat videos?
A: Yep. “Deleted” doesn’t mean gone.
Truth bomb: NOTHING you post online ever truly disappears.
🔎 Here’s what you need to know for your crime stories:
✅ If someone captures a Snapchat video before it vanishes, a digital forensics expert can track it down.
✅ Authorities can subpoena Snapchat’s servers for account data.
✅ With forensic tools, even deleted text messages and images can be recovered—sometimes years later.
Need proof? Read about real Snapchat forensic investigations here:
ForensicMag.com – Snapchat Investigations
Q: How long do drugs stay in the human body?
A: It depends on metabolism, but hair never lies.
🚨 Key facts for your crime novel:
- Blood & urine tests – Detect drugs for hours to days.
- Hair follicles – Retain traces of substances for years, showing exactly when someone took a drug.
- Liver & kidney function – Affects how quickly drugs metabolize—two people can have very different retention times.
Plot Twist Idea: Your character thinks they’re in the clear because a urine test came back clean… but forensic toxicology reveals the truth in a hair follicle sample.
Q: Will my pet eat me if my body is left undiscovered?
A: Hate to break it to you, but… yes.
Welcome to the morbid world of Animal Alteration—when domestic pets scavenge human remains.
🐶 Dogs & Cats:
- Typically start with facial tissue and long bones (arms and legs).
- Happens out of survival instinct, not malice.
🐺 Wild Animals (Coyotes, Raccoons, Vultures):
- Prefer upper torso first, then drag body parts to different locations.
- Investigators searching for remains look for animal paths near crime scenes.
Jennifer’s Pro Tip: If your investigator finds scattered remains, animal activity might be a factor—not always foul play.
Q: Can you get rid of DNA by burning a body?
A: Not easily. Teeth and bones are tougher than you think.
🔥 Arson fires typically burn at 1200-1300°F—hot, but not enough to destroy DNA completely.
🔥 Cremation requires 1500+°F to reduce bones to ash.
🔥 Teeth & jawbones can survive most house fires, making dental records a key forensic tool.
Writing Tip: A killer thinks they’ve destroyed the evidence… but a single molar recovered from the scene results in a victim ID.
Final Thoughts: Get the Science Right, but Let the Story Lead
Crime fiction thrives on tension, high stakes, and human drama.
✅ Use real science to ground your story.
✅ Layer in delays, mistakes, and challenges to make investigations feel authentic.
✅ Develop human drama through the relational issues happening outside of the case—because crime fiction is ultimately about the restoration of disordered lives.
Got a crime writing question? Drop it in the comments!
