How to write a crime novel - Pauline Rowson, author of the Solent based crime novels, explains her system


Is there a perfect system for writing a novel? Well, what is perfect for one writer is a disaster for another. Every author works differently and it takes time to find out what works for you and what doesn’t. Once a writer hits on a system he or she usually sticks with it.   Finding that ‘perfect system’ is often a matter of trial and error until bingo, something clicks.  That’s how it was for me. So where do you start?  What comes first plot or characters?

You might have an idea for a plot or a theme – in my case a victim and location – but without the right characters that plot can never come alive.  Therefore creating and developing characters is a good way to begin.

Creating a likeable, interesting and complex main character, one the reader can have empathy with, one they want to trust, feel his/her pain and disappointments, root for throughout the story is vitally important.  And it's not just the main character but the supporting cast, the villains and the walk-on parts who all need characteristics that are believable even if they are eccentric. The cast must be real to the writer and therefore real to the reader.

A DI Andy Horton Mystery
I start developing my characters using spider grams.  I draw a circle and put each character in the centre of that circle and then I throw out lines and ask a series of ‘open’ questions about each of them.  For example, if I have the victim in the circle then I’d ask questions such as who is he? How did he get where he is?  Why would someone want to kill him?  Who killed him? How was he killed? What’s his background, family, education, experience? What’s his occupation? How old is he? Where does he live? What’s his personality? What does he look like?  What has shaped him? How are the victim’s family, friends and others going to react?  How do they see this character?  What’s my main character (in my case my detective, DI Andy Horton) going to do next?

I draw up character profiles for each of the main and secondary characters, some might be sketchier than others.  But don’t worry if you can’t answer all the questions before you begin writing your novel, in fact you won’t be able to because it isn’t until you start putting dialogue into their mouths and have them walking around and interacting with people that they come alive.  Until then they are just notes on a piece of paper. But those notes can be added to as your characters start to take shape through your writing.

The characters’ actions drive the plot. The surprises, twists and turns all spring from the characters' motivations and as you write you will find ideas occurring to you that you hadn’t previously considered.  You might also discover that someone you thought was going to be a minor character turns out to be much more interesting when you write their part, and a major character becomes boring and sometimes unnecessary, if that happens then cut him out. 

As you write ask yourself what will this character do in this situation?  What will he/she do next?  Throw out more lines around that spider gram. Continually ask questions about each character. Answer them as the novel progresses. Shape and reshape them. Put them in difficult or unusual situations, and as you do the story will unfold and the tension will build. 




Shroud of Evil, the latest DI Andy Horton crime novel set in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

How far would you go to protect a secret?


For DI Andy Horton there is no choice, but withholding information in a murder investigation could cost him his job.




Buy Pauline Rowson's books on Amazon USA

Buy Pauline Rowson's Books on Amazon UK


Buy Pauline Rowson's books at your local bookshop



Also available on loan in UK, USA and Commonwealth Libraries


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