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I’ve been writing detective stories since I was a teenager. Some people think it’s a strange profession
for a woman, but I think crime fiction is for everyone. I’ve started giving writing classes and the most
common question people ask is, “Where do you start?” It’s impossible to give fixed rules, but there are some general tips that people often find useful.
Before you start writing, choose a time period and place that sound realistic. A useful tip is to ‘write
about what you know’. If you were born in Paris or London, it makes sense to set your story in a
European city. Of course, you can write about any continent and any century, but you’ll need to do a lot
more research to make your story believable.
The character of your detective is very important. He or she must have qualities that help them solve the crime, but they also need characteristics that make them an individual. He or she must also fit in the time
and place of your story. Readers are very knowledgeable and they will notice if you get any details wrong about the time period.
Every detective story needs a crime, of course. You need to explain what happens before the crime,
the crime itself and what happens afterwards. Remember that you don’t always have to write about a
murder. Some readers don’t enjoy stories full of guns and blood. So, why not write about a theft,
kidnapping, or something different like an environmental crime?
Clues are important to keep the readers’ interest. They must be interesting, but not too complicated or repetitive. The readers also need to know who the suspects (嫌疑犯) are and if they have an alibi, which means whether they can prove that they were somewhere else when a crime was committed. Decide at the beginning how the crime will be solved and how all the clues will be brought together. Readers love a
‘twist’ at the end of a story - a surprise or a new fact that brings the action to its conclusion.
1. The writer of the text is __________.
A. a man
B. a woman
C. a teenager
D. a criminal
2. Why is it a good idea to ‘write about what you know’?
A. You can write about any period in history.
B. You will have time to do your research.
C. You will believe in your story.
D. You won’t have to do so much research.
3. What does the writer say about readers of crime fiction?
A. They are only interested in the detective.
B. They don’t know how to solve the crime.
C. They know if the writer has made a mistake in the context.
D. They don’t care about the time or place.
4. What two points does the writer make about detective stories?
A. You can write about a range of crimes and readers like a shock at the end of a story.
B. Don’t write about murder and give a lot of clues at the beginning of the story.
C. You can write about guns and blood but don’t surprise readers at the end of the story.
D. You should explain the crime but don’t say who the suspects are.
5. Why did the writer write this text?
A. To describe being a story writer.
B. To give advice on writing a detective story.
C. To keep the readers’ interest.
D. To tell a real detective story.
