Thursday, December 14, 2017

Discovering The Essence Of A True Crime Novel

By Jose Barnes


When it comes to writing, there are a number of different genres. Most often, the first of these to come to mind are fiction, non-fiction, poetry and prose. While this is the case, there are also others such as that of the True Crime Novel. In most cases, this type story is focused on a story which readers will find particularly interesting, especially when there has been a massive amount of coverage in the media.

In most cases, authors penning this type material examine a variety of facts related to a specific incident. While many use actual names, others develop characters based on the original victims in a case. As might be expected, many of these stories are based on kidnappings, serial killers and murders.

Writers often determine the essence of the story. For some, adhering to the facts of a case is more important than characterization. Whereas, others can be speculative and written from the view of an onlooker. In either case, it is important that the facts of the case remain the same as the original.

It is also important that those writing these type publications have a clear understanding of those facts. In particular, those writing books based on historical events or crimes which have set a precedent need to be as detailed as possible. For, a number of these cases are used in the educational system from high school through college.

True crime authors generally take information from a number of different sources then rewrite the material into a publication. Helter Skelter, published in 1974 which tells the story of the murders ordered by Charles Manson and committed by members of the Manson family are a good example. In fact, the book holds the title for being the all time best seller of books in this genre.

Stories based on criminal activity whether fact or fiction have always excited and entertained readers. With this being a rare genre, and the fact that men and women commit these type crimes, most books appeal to both sexes. While this is the case, it should be noted that in all cases, these crimes are often committed by people who knew the victims except for those committed by serial killers.

As might be expected, sensational crimes make the best stories when it comes to this genre. For example, JonBenet Ramsey, O. J. Simpson and others provide authors the chance to write in-depth publications related to the crimes. While these crimes may be more notable, there are also local stories which have made it to bookshelves. For example, the story of Natalie Antonetti, a woman whom was brutally murdered in Austin, Texas in the 1980s is the subject of a book titled "As She Lay Sleeping."

While there can be reversals of a guilty sentence, books related to the incident are rarely pulled from shelves. In some cases, local authors may not release new issues once the originals are sold. Although, when it comes to best sellers, most writers are more about selling books than replacing those already on shelves. Whereas, when it comes to e-book authors, it is often easier to update the facts when and where necessary.




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