I can already imagine you wondering, why on earth is this even important. Oh well, you’ll find out why very soon, that much I can assure you… but before I go into that detail however, I think there is a need for a backstory, need is too little a word, it is important that we have a backstory.
I am a young writer/ author who has been writing all her life and my writing abilities span across varied fields so I have garnered quite a few experiences. Out of all these experiences, writing creative fiction is of course my favorite and the one I have the most lessons learned and stories to share. Through my years of writing fiction (I still write fiction stories), one of the most interesting questions I have had to either answer or even ask is the question of
‘How do you write a story in a genre that you have no experience with’
We hear it often when we read tips on writing with real emotions or making your work as realistic as possible…there are all these advices about tapping into real experiences and real emotions and of course they are right…but no one ever said the real experiences or emotions has to be yours.
Wait…I am dropping the tips too early. Back to the backstory.
You see, I have a deep love for romance novels, those heart-fluttering tales of love and passion. The kind that makes your heart skip a beat and your cheeks flush with excitement but, for some inexplicable reason, my writing journey has taken a dark and twisted turn towards the realm of crime and thrillers. I’ll share a link to some of my stories somewhere below and I am sure that after reading, you’ll become incredibly worried about my mental health. The irony of this is that I am the complete opposite of this. I am a non-violent, one confrontational creature who loves love, will never watch a movie where people die or read a book that ends in tears yet every single thing I pour on paper involves blood, a knife and people losing their lives.
Yes, you heard it right!
But I just can't resist crime fiction!
Now, don't worry, I haven't gone on a killing spree or anything (at least not yet). It's quite the paradox, isn't it? Here I am, a lover of all things romance, but my writing veers sharply towards the dark side. As I pen these thrilling stories, I have to transport myself into the minds of my characters, diving deep into the psyche of serial killers and the macabre world they inhabit. It's a place I wouldn't dare visit in real life, but through my writing, I have to explore the twisted complexities of the criminal mind…and as psychotic as it may sounds, I quite like it…but I shan't go into the details before this piece gets me arrested.
Now that we have the backstory out of the way, this is why this post is important, if you a new writer or even an OG and you're looking for real tips from someone who has been in the game for a while on how to write spectacular pieces without experiences or enough research material, then feel free to continue reading.
I started a gripping book series, "The Red Cloak" and "In Red Letters”, chilling tales that take readers on a twisted and psychotic journey alongside two cunning serial killers. Intrigued? You should be! (and if you are interested in reading, I'll share a link when they are out and ready for the world to read)...
I can assure you, dear reader, that no real murders have occurred on my watch. My characters and their crimes exist solely within the realm of imagination. But the beauty of writing crime fiction lies in the ability to craft compelling narratives, to create spine-chilling suspense that keeps you turning the pages late into the night.
I had to do 4 years of research especially because they were both set in Nigeria and Nigeria has one of the worst records of anything about herself (this is an exaggeration but still the pain is real), trying to research anything about my motherland led me to many tears. Anyway, I eventually made it work and when you read these books, you’ll see why. There were hardly any crime fiction set in Nigeria when I started my research and hardly any movies to fall back to so I had to research beyond my geographical location and imagine how that would work in Nigeria based on my experiences…(keep in my mind, i am a fluff only, romance reader, love movies watcher…so this was hard)
All in all, I am the right person to talk about this. So here are my sure fire tips…or is it fire sure tips (at this point, anyone that works)
While I may not have firsthand experience in criminal activities (thank goodness!), my imagination knows no bounds. I've researched forensic science, studied real-life criminal cases, and devoured countless crime novels to ensure that my stories are gripping, authentic, and adrenaline-fueled. And let's not forget the countless hours I've spent binge-watching crime shows, much to the concern of my friends and family!
This is the first tip, in case that much isn’t obvious. You will have to do a lot of research and venture into very weird places. I went as far as reading books written by serial killers, playing serial killer quizzes, reading interview transcripts of serial killers, reading letters written by them as well as the world’s biggest encyclopedia for serial killers. Please don't ask me how I found them, I am a good researcher and that's all that needs to be known. You’ll do more research than the average writer and don't expect to find it all immediately, take your time to digest as much information as you can.
Immerse yourself in research. Dive headfirst into crime documentaries, forensic psychology books, and true crime podcasts. Let your mind absorb the details, the psychology of criminals, and the techniques used to catch them. Knowledge is power, my friends!
Next, observe the world around you. Look for those subtle details, the quirks, and the hidden motivations of people you encounter. Reality can often be stranger than fiction, and by carefully observing human behavior, you can infuse your characters with authenticity and depth. Imaginations can be fuelled by reality…a lot of my characters have traits or characteristics mirroring people i have observed…as much as they are a psychotic characters, they are also people who will laugh, cry, get anxious or scared and these are real emotions that you don’t need to kill someone to experience. I wrote a rape scee once, I didn’t have the experiece to be graphic about it and didn’t even want to touch that but I watched videos of victims, read their stories and wrote about the emotions involved in the moment…such that you may not be able to picture how it happened but you will feel the hurt and the pain behind every thing that happened.
Tap into your own fears, anxieties, and curiosities to infuse your writing with authenticity. By connecting with your readers' emotions, you can create a truly gripping and immersive experience. Remember, writing in a genre you haven't experienced firsthand is all about channeling your imagination and embracing the art of storytelling. So, even if romance novels tug at your heartstrings like a catchy love ballad, don't be afraid to explore the shadows and let your dark side shine.
The last tip is to remember that at the end of the day, this is all fiction. No one expects you to be 100% realistic, it is okay to make stuff up…it is your story anyway. I struggled a lot with this because I was worried that real people that work in those industries will find my work and make fun of it for being unrealistic and so I put myself under pressure to be as close to the truth as possible. Let me just confess, I didn't even get near the truth but I can assure you that I did my best. This is the part where creativity is very important. Allow your mind to fly to the deepest corners, whether it is realistic or not.
And there you have it…until next time