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Fiction Writing Made Easy
Fiction Writing Made Easy is your go-to podcast for practical, no-fluff tips on how to write, edit, and publish a novel—from first draft to finished book. Hosted by developmental editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo, this show breaks down the fiction writing process into clear, actionable steps so you can finally make progress on your manuscript.
Whether you're a first-time author or a seasoned writer looking to sharpen your skills, each episode offers insights on novel writing, story structure, character development, world-building, editing, and publishing. Savannah also shares mindset tips, writing routines, and revision strategies to help you stay motivated and finish your novel with confidence.
If you're asking these questions, you're in the right place:
- How do I write a novel without experience?
- What’s the best way to structure a story that works?
- How do I develop strong characters and build immersive worlds?
- How do I edit or revise my first draft?
- When is my book ready to publish?
- What are my self-publishing and traditional publishing options?
New episodes drop weekly to help you write a novel you're proud of—and get it into readers’ hands.
Fiction Writing Made Easy
#75: Crime Genre Conventions
In today's episode, I’m covering the conventions of the crime genre. This includes the character roles, settings, and events that need to be present in a crime story in order for it to work and satisfy fans of the genre. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[01:30] Crime stories are all about the quest to either solve or commit a crime. So, these stories start with a crime, build with an investigation (or a completion of the crime), and end with identifying and bringing the criminal to justice (or not).
[05:15] 1. There’s a crime with at least one victim that launches the investigation.
[06:15] 2. The protagonist is intelligent and determined to solve the crime.
[08:15] 3. There’s an equally smart or crafty antagonist who seems to be a step ahead of the protagonist the whole time.
[09:15] 4. There is a closed circle of suspects, each with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity to commit the crime.
[10:30] 5. There’s a MacGuffin (or a very specific thing the antagonist wants).
[11:30] 6. A sidekick character who acts as a sounding board for the protagonist.
[12:25] 7. There are clues and red herrings that help (or hurt) the investigation.
[13:40] 8. There’s a ticking clock by which the protagonist must solve the crime.
[14:37] 9. There’s a speech in praise of the antagonist that shows their brilliance.
[15:48] 10. There’s at least one shapeshifter character.
[16:42] Key points and episode recap
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- Episode Freebie: Crime Genre Cheat Sheet
- The 6 Key Scenes Every Crime Story Needs (article)
- What are Obligatory Scenes and Conventions? (article)
- Understanding Genre: How to Write Better Stories (article)
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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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