Monday, May 17, 2010

Inside a Criminal's Mind

I consider myself a character-driven writer because I enjoy exploring the human condition in my fiction.  It's no surprise, then, that I chose to focus on crime in my first manuscript.  More specifically, I'm following a man's journey in a downward spiral from depressed but functioning member of society, to criminal.  The buildup of resentment towards an unfair society leads to the inevitable breaking point.  In that moment of blinding frustration and anger, the shift occurs and an outlaw is born.

Crime and literature have a rich history together.  Daniel J. Kornstein says, "Literature and crime live in happy symbiosis.  Literature often depends on crime for a good story, and that story often in turn yields important insights about crime." (Source)  Regardless of the magnitude of the crime, whether it involves breaking a taboo or outright murder, the perpetrator arrives at a moment of decision and chooses to commit it.  Not everyone turns to crime when the opportunity arises.  Getting inside the mind that does provides fascinating fodder for fiction.

A wonderful selection of articles on the topic of crime in literature can be found HERE.


I picked up a copy of Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs yesterday.
She is one of my favorite crime fiction authors.
Who's yours?

37 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

Oh! I love Kathy Reichs, too! I've read all her Temperance Brennan books, and I can't wait until the next one comes out.

I'm really big into mysteries in books and tv. It's really hard to pick favorites, though.

Sarah Callejo said...

Sounds really interesting what you're doing. However, I do hope it's only documentation and no practice!!
I love your blog, there's so many different subjects, it's great.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think the closest I come to crime writers are Preston and Child and their Pendergast books.

Jessica Bell said...

Wow, that's really interesting. I've always wondered how law abiding citizens actually do get into a criminal mind. What kind of research do you do, Nicole? How do become the criminal mind you are writing to make it realistic? I'm an explorer of the human condition too, but this condition I think would be beyond my potential. But I sure do find it fascinating!

Janet Johnson said...

I've never read much crime fiction. Though I suppose it's in a lot of works. Take Harry Potter, for example. Artemis Fowl was fun, and I guess that's crime fiction. So maybe I've read more than I thought.

Interesting description of the psyche of a criminal though.

Jaydee Morgan said...

I'm a huge fan of crime fiction - and I read a lot of true crime as well. I so want to write a crime-based novel/thriller one day.

Even though this is one of my favorite genres to read, I don't think I have a true favorite - although, I agree, Kathy Reichs is great.

JE said...

Kudos to your for writing crime. I think that's VERY difficult! All those puzzle pieces and elements of suspense. My first book (that I'm still trying to work the kinks out of) is romantic suspense and it's driving me insane! The supsense part that is...I've got the romance part down. LOL. So, good luck!

~JD

Unknown said...

Cherie~ She is amazing! I think Temperance and Kathy are the same "character," but Kathy's writing style is so hypnotic that I don't question her creativity for a second!

Sarah~ Thanks! And no, I'm not a practicing criminal LOL!!

Alex~ I'll have to check them out :)

Jessica~ It's not going to be easy to fully understand the dynamic. But, I have experienced crushing depression before, the kind where you're sure everyone around you thinks you're as bad as you think you are. In those moments, I've felt like I don't give a damn about right and wrong. No consequence seemed threatening enough to curb my thoughts. I take myself back to those dark days when I'm writing Ray's chapters. So far, so good...

Janet~ I agree! My novel isn't crime fiction -- it's more commercial fiction. But like you said, you find crime across genres in literature.

Jaydee~ Crime fiction is engrossing and fun to read -- especially in the summer, don't you think?

Unknown said...

Justine~ Mine's not crime fiction either, there's just a crime aspect. But you're right, the plot becomes a puzzle with lots of places where logic can fail you if you're not careful. Challenging!!

Christine Danek said...

It always fascinates me how crime writers do it. It is difficult. I will have to add that book to my list sounds interesting.
Thanks!

Jayne said...

Your manuscript sounds very interesting! I like the way you have written about the shift to outlaw. It makes me keen to read your books. (Note the way I say 'books' - oh yes!)

Crime fiction - not really a genre I seem to pick up, unless it is a 'whodunnit'. But no reason why not to read it, especially... actually I think the generic look of some of the covers of crime fiction seem to turn me off for some reason.

Lydia Kang said...

I don't read a whole lot of crime fiction. It's a world I don't understand, but that would probably make me an ideal audience, wouldn't it?

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sadly, it's not a genre I read!

Julie Dao said...

Sounds fascinating, Nicole. I would love to be more of a character-driven writer. I'm learning! Thanks for the terrific link to all of those articles, I will definitely be checking them out.

James Garcia Jr said...

I love Micheal Slade and his writing about the Special X Division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (very grizzly and taboo stuff there), as well as Patricia Cornwell's Dr, Kay Scarpetta series.
Thanks for asking.

Susan Fields said...

I used to be a huge Patricia Cornwell fan, but I stopped reading her many years ago when she started getting too much into the killers' minds. It just wasn't a place I want to be. A little bit is okay, but if they're too sick and twisted it just makes me uncomfortable. What you mentioned, about someone in a downward spiral, would be completely different from a really messed up psychopath.

Emily Ann Benedict said...

Oo, creepy. ;) But you've got a good foundation. If the characters don't have depth, it won't matter how good the overall story is. People will just get stuck thinking about how lame the character was. ;)
Good luck!

Lisa_Gibson said...

I haven't read any crime fiction in ages. I tend to read in YA fiction at this point. Interesting post though. :)

DL Hammons said...

Michael Connelly is my latest infatuation...but I think my all-time favorite is Ed McBain.

Tahereh said...

wow fascinating!! i don't usually read crime fiction so i know little about it, but this post was so informative!

thanks for the info :D

MTeacress said...

I haven't read enough crime fiction to have a favorite. I should branch out a little and give it a try. Thanks for the link. This is some good info. :)

Anonymous said...

Very interesting. Am I okay in saying that I find crime, horror, mystery and thrillers cross each other when it comes to genre? I'm not sure I can draw a distinct line between the four. I enjoy a really good story and your description sounds like it will be a really great read!

Shelley Sly said...

I neither read nor write crime stories, but I do find them interesting. It sounds like you're writing something fascinating, and I'd love to read it someday. :) Thanks for this peek into the crime-writing world!

B. Miller said...

Nice premise! I love this idea. Thanks so much for sharing!

I'm hosting my first ever blog contest and I hope you can stop by sometime and take a look! The Pay it Forward Giveaway is underway! :D

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I don't have a favorite crime writer. The one you list sounds good and I think I'll add it to my to read list. Yours sounds good, too. I will definitely want to read it!

Kimberly Franklin said...

I don't really read crime fiction, actually all I've read lately is YA. But I did read a YA crime novel, well sort of. It's "The Body Finder" by Kimberly Derting and it's fabulous!!

Unknown said...

I've never read crime fiction before but if given a life line I would call my mom, she loves to read those crime stories, she loves serial killer books for the characters in them!

I'm with Kimberly Franklin The Body Finder was an incredible book!

Angie Paxton said...

I just checked out my first Kathy Reichs book and can't wait to get started on it. My favorite go to crime fiction writer is Greg Iles. Love his stuff!

Portia said...

I'm a huge fan of true crime. Two of my favorites are Ann Rule and Harold Schechter. Harold specializes in true historical serial murderers-fascinating stuff!

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm another Kathy Reichs fan - great stuff!

Ann Best said...

I'm reading Columbine by Dave Cullen. Just started it. True-life crime is my favorite. Chilling, but absolutely mesmerizing when handled by someone like Cullen.

BTW, I can't access your About Me. And your blogroll doesn't come up, either. I'm also having a hard time reading black type against dark blue background. Are these problems coming from my end?? Is anyone else having such problems? I've been having problems lately with all kinds of things, so maybe it's just me....

Roland D. Yeomans said...

There is no beating Raymond Chandler. If you want to read just one book of his, read THE LONG GOODBYE, his best.

Next is Robert B. Parker, sadly just recently deceased. His Spenser is witty, reflective, and in love with one very wise woman (a rarity in crime series.} LOOKING FOR RACHEL WALLACE, a pro-Lesbian novel at a time when it was nearly suicide to write one.

He also wrote a YA novel of Spenser when he was 14 years old, told in the present to the love of his life, Susan Silverman, a psychologist. CHASING THE BEAR is its title.

I look forward to reading your LET'S TALK entry tomorrow. Due to threatening weather, I had to post mine tonight, Roland

Talli Roland said...

Yikes, I admit, I don't read a lot of crime. When I was younger I used to read Mary Higgins Clarke and I really enjoyed her plots. But that's about as criminal as I get, I'm afraid!

Terry Stonecrop said...

Thanks for the links. I read a lot of murder mysteries. I have so many favorite authors. My all time favorite is Raymond Chandler.

Stina said...

I used to read medical thrillers, especially by Robin Cook. I'm not sure if that's considered crime fiction.

Now I only read YA. :D

Olive said...

Thanks for visiting my blog Write O live and leaving a comment:) I'm a big fan of reading crime, but not the best at writing it. I am fascinated (and envious!) at how crime writers can come up with plot after plot

prashant said...

I love your blog, there's so many different subjects, it's great.
home jobs india