The Anatomy of a Short Crime Story: From Plotting to Publication
My Step-by-step Guide On Writing Tight, Suspenseful Crime Fiction And Sharing It With The World.
📝 552 words. ⏳ Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.Writing a short crime story takes skill, not instinct.
It’s all about dropping clues that readers could spot but don’t, until you hit them with a twist they didn’t see coming. The trick is making all of that happen in the tight space of a short story, while still keeping the suspense alive.
People will give you plenty of advice on this, and some of it’s helpful. But from my experience, figuring out your process comes from trying, failing, and learning as you go. Here’s what I’ve learned about writing short crime stories.
How I Write A Short Crime Story (And How You Should Write It)
1. Pick a Crime
First, decide what crime drives your story. Crime covers a lot of ground—not just murder. Think hacking, theft, or even white-collar fraud.
The more unexpected your choice, the more it’ll grab attention. Just make sure it’s something readers can recognize quickly.
Kidnapping, fraud, theft, art heists, political intrigue, impersonation, arson, child pornography, treason—just to name a few. These are all horrible acts in real life, but each can provide an abundance of inspiration for your plot.
2. Find Your Premise
Once you’ve got your crime, focus on your “what if” idea. A simple, clear premise sets the stage for everything. For example:
What if a detective has to solve the crime they’ve been accused of committing?
What if a desperate artist steals their own work back to cover their tracks?
Your premise should spark curiosity and make readers wonder how things will unfold. There’s plenty of great fiction around us, so be original to capture your reader’s attention.
3. Build Your Characters
Even in short stories, strong characters matter. Craft a backstory that adds depth, along with flaws and traits that make them believable. The character’s connection to the crime drives the story, so make them real, even in just a few pages.
4. Plot with Purpose
Don’t let the shorter format fool you—your plot still needs structure. Begin where it makes the most impact. You can start with the crime itself, or later when the consequences hit.
Keep the pacing tight but clear, building towards a payoff that feels earned.
5. Choose a Theme
Every crime story carries a theme, whether it’s about justice, betrayal, or survival. It doesn’t need to be heavy-handed, but it should add weight to your plot.
Short stories don’t have room for everything, so pick a theme that complements your crime and character, and let it shine through.
Where to Share Your Story
Once you’ve got your story, here are some ways to get it out there:
Magazines like Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine or Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine focus on crime fiction.
Online platforms like Substack (or Medium) give you access to wide audiences.
Contests and anthologies offer great exposure for crime writers.
Self-publishing on Amazon KDP is an option if you want more control.
Local publications can also be great outlets for your work.
The best way to grow as a crime writer is to keep experimenting. Short stories give you room to explore without a huge time commitment.
Take risks, learn from your mistakes, and let each story be better than the last.
Success comes to those who aren’t afraid to push their limits.
Until next time!
—Simon
Hey there! I’m Simon, a business owner who’s totally passionate about writing (and one day, I hope to marry the two!).
A Call to All Writers!
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Would you be willing to take 2-3 minutes to help them turn this vision into reality?
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