<ul><li>Whodunits are traditional mysteries in which the perpetrator is hidden until the end. Some aithors are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.</li><li>Howdunits focus on the how of the crime. Writers ranging from Joseph Wambaugh to Michael Connelly have written this</li><li>Whydunits focus on the motivation of the perpetrator. Examples are Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and many of Elmore Leonard’s criminal novel depictions.</li></ul>

Subgenres

<ul><li>Your detective is the protagonist. </li><li>From serial killer to good guy gone bad, know your villain. </li><li>Know your victim(s).</li></ul>Then flesh out all your supporting characters:<ul><li>Partners and sidekick</li><li>Suspects</li><li>Love interest</li><li>Mentor</li><li>Other supporting characters</li></ul>

Know Your Characters

<ol><li>Start with the Detective and the Crime</li><li>Reluctance to take the case</li><li>Set-Up to set the sleuth on the path toward solving the mystery.</li><li>The First Attempt</li><li>Reveal Facts and Create Urgency</li><li>Broaden the Investigative Scope</li><li>Deepening Your Crime Novel Characters</li><li>The Big Change which is at the mid-point of your novel, change the focus and scope of the investigation</li><li>Motive Revelation and Isolation</li><li>Where Did They Go Wrong? The slueth reflects</li><li>The Sleuth Has Answers</li><li>The Right Answer</li><li>The Climax</li><li>The Conclusion</li></ol>

Hero’s Journey to Outline Your Crime Novel

<img src="https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/crimeoutlinecover.png" alt="steps to outline your crime novel" width="393" height="262"><h2>The Crime Novel Genre</h2>The crime genre covers a wide range of subgenres from whodunit, to howdunit, to whydunit. The general premise is the game you played as a kid, cops and robbers. <UL><LI>Whodunits are traditional <a href="https://prowritingaid.com/art/692/The-Best-Ever-Mystery-Novels.aspx" dir="ltr">mysteries</a> in which the perpetrator is hidden until the end. Think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. </LI><LI>Howdunits focus on the how of the crime. These are police procedurals and detective stories where the protagonist tracks down the perpetrator, with writers ranging from Joseph Wambaugh to Michael Connelly. Evidence leads to apprehension. </LI><LI>Whydunits focus on the motivation of the perpetrator. This genre shifts the focus from law enforcement to the criminal. There may be law enforcement, but the criminal is the protagonist. Examples are Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and many of Elmore Leonard’s criminal novel depictions. </LI></UL>This article focuses on outlining a howdunit, where law enforcement procedures lead the protagonist toward apprehending the criminal. <h3>Know Your Genre</h3>Crime is a popular genre. Readers have expectations. When you plan your novel you’ll want to meet those expectations. The crime genre has crossovers with mysteries and thrillers, but in crime you want to focus on the cat-and-mouse play between the detective and the criminal. If you’ve read in the genre, and you should, you know that however much you plan for twists and surprises, the characters lead the story. Characters are what hook and engage readers.<h3>Know Your Characters</h3>Save yourself confusion and grief by setting up a <a href="https://prowritingaid.com/art/717/how-to-create-and-use-a-character-bible-for-your-novel.aspx" dir="ltr">character bible</a>. List your characters and their details in one place where you can easily check details like hair color, who married whom, and relationships to other characters in your story. <UL><LI>Your detective is the protagonist. Know basic background about their branch of law enforcement: local police force, FBI, sheriff’s department, game warden, etc. </LI><LI>From serial killer to good guy gone bad, know your villain. This character is the source of evidence as well as obstacles and confrontations for your detective.</LI><LI>Know your victim(s). Their relationship to the villain is the crux of the crime. </LI></UL>Then flesh out all your supporting characters:<UL><LI>Partners and sidekick</LI><LI>Suspects</LI><LI>Love interest</LI><LI>Mentor </LI><LI>Other supporting characters</LI></UL>Outlining your story gives you a framework, but strong characters with motivations, strengths, and weaknesses are the essential vehicles for telling the crime story. <h2>How to Modify the Hero’s Journey to Outline Your Crime Novel</h2>Use Joseph Campbell’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey" dir="ltr">Hero’s Journey</a> modified into your sleuth’s crime story to outline your novel. <img src="https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/herosjourneygraphic.png" alt="hero's journey graphic" width="393" height="262">Follow the beats outlined in the graphic above to go from beginning to the return to your hero’s world. The beats outline the story progression but allow you freedom to construct your crime and the hero’s interconnection with evidence and other characters. From beginning to end, the beats lead you through a storyline that keeps readers turning pages. Let’s investigate how to adapt the Hero’s Journey outlining method for a crime novel. <h2>Setting the Scene</h2><h3>Start with the Detective and the Crime</h3>In the beginning, introduce your detective in their ordinary professional world. Your protagonist detective is your reader’s guide through the story. Give the reader reasons to empathize with your detective. Crime novels focus on the pursuit of the villain, so spend one or two scenes introducing your detective and then disrupt their world by introducing the crime. They are hired to solve the crime, assigned the case, or drawn into the investigation somehow. This should include one clue the detective receives that will play a role later in the <a href="https://prowritingaid.com/art/692/The-Best-Ever-Mystery-Novels.aspx" dir="ltr">mystery</a>.<h3>Reluctance</h3>If the hero is a detective, the refusal to the call occurs when he/she doesn’t want the case, or fears he or she won’t be given the case. Often, the refusal of the call is not the decision of the hero, but of their superiors or those around them. <h3>Set-Up</h3>Set the sleuth on the path toward solving the mystery. Offer plausible suspects, all of whom appear to have had motive, means, and opportunity to to commit the crime. Select the most likely suspects, and have the sleuth question them. One of these suspects will turn out to be the actual perpetrator.At approximately quarter-way through the novel, something should occur which makes it clear to the reader that the crime is more complicated than originally thought. You can hint to allow the reader to actually see possibilities not yet known to the sleuth.<h2>Plotting Your Sleuth’s Journey</h2><h3>The First Attempt</h3>Direct the investigation toward a conclusion which later proves to be erroneous. Usually this conclusion and its failure do provide the sleuth with some new information that sets him on the path to the correct answer, or at least the next try/fail. This is a good place for a clue. The sleuth does not realize is important, but pays off later. <img src="https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/cluescrimewritingtip.png" alt="Crime Writing Tip: Writing Clues" width="393" height="262"><h3>Reveal Facts and Create Urgency</h3>Reveal facts about suspects through interrogations and the discovery of clues.Develop a sense of urgency. Raise the stakes or make it evident that if the mystery is not solved soon, there will be terrible consequences. This could be prompted by the flight or disappearance of one or more suspect.<h3>Broaden the Investigative Scope</h3>Expand the investigation to put suspicion on other characters.Information gathered through interviews or the discovery of physical evidence should point toward the solution, although their relevance may not yet be apparent.<h3>Deepening Your Crime Novel Characters</h3>Reveal your sleuth’s background by developing the sub-plot. Show the reader what drives the protagonist, what haunts or is missing in his or her life.Make it clear that the sleuth has a personal stake in the outcome, either because of threat to his or her life, or the possibility of revelation of matters deeply disturbing to the protagonist on an emotional level.For the second time, the sleuth empathizes with the victim or their family, this time related to their own deep-seated issues.<h2>Building Towards the Climax of Your Story</h2><h3>The Big Change</h3>At the mid-point of your novel, change the focus and scope of the investigation. This is the pivotal point in the story where it becomes evident that the sleuth was on the wrong track. Something unexpected occurs, such as the appearance of a second body, the death of a major suspect, or discovery of evidence which clears the most likely suspect. The story takes a new direction.<h3>Motive Revelation and Isolation</h3>Reveal something about the victim, something that also reveals the true motive of the killer. The sleuth and others have probably been wrong about the motive until this point. The other investigators may still be wrong, and not believe our protagonist, therefore isolating him in his investigation.Isolation is key to ramping up tension. The main character is the only one with the real solution to the crime, and may be the only one pursuing it. <h3>Where Did They Go Wrong?</h3>The sleuth reviews the case to determine where he or she went wrong.Reveal the chain of events which provoked the crime.The crucial evidence overlooked early in the story appeared to have little consequence at the time it was first disclosed. But now, that evidence takes on new meaning with new information.The sleuth (and perhaps the reader, if a keen observer) becomes aware of the error which remains undisclosed to the other characters.<h2>Solving the Crime and Tying Up Loose Ends</h2><h3>The Sleuth Has Answers</h3>Your sleuth weighs the evidence and information gleaned from other characters.Based on what only he or she now knows, the sleuth must seek positive proof to back up the yet undisclosed conclusion.At this point, the reader generally does not know the answer. <h3>The Right Answer</h3>Now reveal the real solution to the reader. There is often a pursuit here where the sleuth chases the villain in one way or another. <img src="https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/crimenovel3.jpg" alt="criminal’s hands in handcuffs at interrogation table" width="393" height="262"><h3>The Climax</h3>The climax is the dramatic confrontation between the sleuth and the perpetrator in which the sleuth prevails. The more “impossible” the odds have been, the more rewarding the climax will be.The resolution is the revelation of clues and the deductive process which led to the solution. Establish that the case has been solved and justice has been served to the satisfaction of all involved (except the villain).<h3>The Conclusion</h3>What is the lesson learned, the character trait developed, or the heart won? How does the story resolve in a positive way for the sleuth?<h2>Creating a Unique Story</h2>The beat outline is a framework for your crime novel. Using it will keep you on track to satisfy crime reader expectations. But, there’s more to creating a great crime novel than story beats. Your imagination fills in the “story.” As you create your characters, evidence, and clues, and the interactions among the characters, you’ll create a story that is uniquely yours. Interweave characters, setting, and plot to create emotional hooks for your reader. Your reader won’t care about the story until they care about your characters, especially your detective. Create a strong motivation for your sleuth to want to solve the crime. And, give your detective internal needs that drive his or her actions. Play off between the wants and needs to keep your reader caring. Use the beats to ensure your crime novel meets reader expectations for the genre. Create character interactions that keep your reader involved. <h3 dir="ltr">Looking for more outlining tips? <a href="https://prowritingaid.com/en/Landing/ebook2" dir="ltr">Download this free book now</a>:</h3><img src="https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Free-ebook-CTA-graphic_4.jpg" alt="The Novel-Writing Training Plan" width="393" height="262"><h3 dir="ltr">This <a href="https://prowritingaid.com/Views/Pug/[https://prowritingaid.com/en/Landing/ebook2](https://prowritingaid.com/en/Landing/ebook2)" dir="ltr">guide</a> helps you work out your narrative arc, plan out your key plot points, flesh out your characters, and begin to build your world.</h3>

Step-by-step outline beats to create a crime novel readers will love.

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The crime genre covers a wide range of subgenres from whodunit , to howdunit , to whydunit . The general premise is the game you played as a kid, cops and robbers.

<ul><li>Whodunits are traditional <a dir="ltr" href="https://prowritingaid.com/art/692/The-Best-Ever-Mystery-Novels.aspx">mysteries </a>in which the perpetrator is hidden until the end. Think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. </li><li>Howdunits focus on the how of the crime. These are police procedurals and detective stories where the protagonist tracks down the perpetrator, with writers ranging from Joseph Wambaugh to Michael Connelly. Evidence leads to apprehension. </li><li>Whydunits focus on the motivation of the perpetrator. This genre shifts the focus from law enforcement to the criminal. There may be law enforcement, but the criminal is the protagonist. Examples are Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and many of Elmore Leonard’s criminal novel depictions. </li> </ul>

This article focuses on outlining a howdunit , where law enforcement procedures lead the protagonist toward apprehending the criminal.

Crime is a popular genre. Readers have expectations. When you plan your novel you’ll want to meet those expectations.

The crime genre has crossovers with mysteries and thrillers, but in crime you want to focus on the cat-and-mouse play between the detective and the criminal.

If you’ve read in the genre, and you should, you know that however much you plan for twists and surprises, the characters lead the story.

Characters are what hook and engage readers.

Save yourself confusion and grief by setting up a <a dir="ltr" href="https://prowritingaid.com/art/717/how-to-create-and-use-a-character-bible-for-your-novel.aspx">character bible </a>. List your characters and their details in one place where you can easily check details like hair color, who married whom, and relationships to other characters in your story.

<ul><li>Your detective is the protagonist . Know basic background about their branch of law enforcement: local police force, FBI, sheriff’s department, game warden, etc. </li><li>From serial killer to good guy gone bad, know your villain . This character is the source of evidence as well as obstacles and confrontations for your detective. </li><li>Know your victim(s) . Their relationship to the villain is the crux of the crime. </li> </ul>

Then flesh out all your supporting characters:

<ul><li>Partners and sidekick </li><li>Suspects </li><li>Love interest </li><li>Mentor </li><li>Other supporting characters </li> </ul>

Outlining your story gives you a framework, but strong characters with motivations, strengths, and weaknesses are the essential vehicles for telling the crime story.

How to Modify the Hero’s Journey to Outline Your Crime Novel

Use Joseph Campbell’s <a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey">Hero’s Journey </a>modified into your sleuth’s crime story to outline your novel.

Follow the beats outlined in the graphic above to go from beginning to the return to your hero’s world. The beats outline the story progression but allow you freedom to construct your crime and the hero’s interconnection with evidence and other characters.

From beginning to end, the beats lead you through a storyline that keeps readers turning pages.

Let’s investigate how to adapt the Hero’s Journey outlining method for a crime novel.

In the beginning, introduce your detective in their ordinary professional world. Your protagonist detective is your reader’s guide through the story. Give the reader reasons to empathize with your detective.

Crime novels focus on the pursuit of the villain, so spend one or two scenes introducing your detective and then disrupt their world by introducing the crime. They are hired to solve the crime, assigned the case, or drawn into the investigation somehow.

This should include one clue the detective receives that will play a role later in the <a dir="ltr" href="https://prowritingaid.com/art/692/The-Best-Ever-Mystery-Novels.aspx">mystery </a>.

If the hero is a detective, the refusal to the call occurs when he/she doesn’t want the case, or fears he or she won’t be given the case. Often, the refusal of the call is not the decision of the hero, but of their superiors or those around them.

Set the sleuth on the path toward solving the mystery. Offer plausible suspects, all of whom appear to have had motive, means, and opportunity to to commit the crime. Select the most likely suspects, and have the sleuth question them. One of these suspects will turn out to be the actual perpetrator.

At approximately quarter-way through the novel, something should occur which makes it clear to the reader that the crime is more complicated than originally thought. You can hint to allow the reader to actually see possibilities not yet known to the sleuth.

Direct the investigation toward a conclusion which later proves to be erroneous. Usually this conclusion and its failure do provide the sleuth with some new information that sets him on the path to the correct answer, or at least the next try/fail. This is a good place for a clue. The sleuth does not realize is important, but pays off later.

Reveal facts about suspects through interrogations and the discovery of clues.

Develop a sense of urgency. Raise the stakes or make it evident that if the mystery is not solved soon, there will be terrible consequences. This could be prompted by the flight or disappearance of one or more suspect.

Expand the investigation to put suspicion on other characters.

Information gathered through interviews or the discovery of physical evidence should point toward the solution, although their relevance may not yet be apparent.

Reveal your sleuth’s background by developing the sub-plot. Show the reader what drives the protagonist, what haunts or is missing in his or her life.

Make it clear that the sleuth has a personal stake in the outcome, either because of threat to his or her life, or the possibility of revelation of matters deeply disturbing to the protagonist on an emotional level.

For the second time, the sleuth empathizes with the victim or their family, this time related to their own deep-seated issues.

Building Towards the Climax of Your Story

At the mid-point of your novel, change the focus and scope of the investigation. This is the pivotal point in the story where it becomes evident that the sleuth was on the wrong track.

Something unexpected occurs, such as the appearance of a second body, the death of a major suspect, or discovery of evidence which clears the most likely suspect. The story takes a new direction.

Reveal something about the victim, something that also reveals the true motive of the killer. The sleuth and others have probably been wrong about the motive until this point. The other investigators may still be wrong, and not believe our protagonist, therefore isolating him in his investigation.

Isolation is key to ramping up tension. The main character is the only one with the real solution to the crime, and may be the only one pursuing it.

The sleuth reviews the case to determine where he or she went wrong.

Reveal the chain of events which provoked the crime.

The crucial evidence overlooked early in the story appeared to have little consequence at the time it was first disclosed. But now, that evidence takes on new meaning with new information.

The sleuth (and perhaps the reader, if a keen observer) becomes aware of the error which remains undisclosed to the other characters.

Solving the Crime and Tying Up Loose Ends

Your sleuth weighs the evidence and information gleaned from other characters.

Based on what only he or she now knows, the sleuth must seek positive proof to back up the yet undisclosed conclusion.

At this point, the reader generally does not know the answer.

Now reveal the real solution to the reader. There is often a pursuit here where the sleuth chases the villain in one way or another.

The climax is the dramatic confrontation between the sleuth and the perpetrator in which the sleuth prevails. The more “impossible” the odds have been, the more rewarding the climax will be.

The resolution is the revelation of clues and the deductive process which led to the solution. Establish that the case has been solved and justice has been served to the satisfaction of all involved (except the villain).

What is the lesson learned, the character trait developed, or the heart won? How does the story resolve in a positive way for the sleuth?

The beat outline is a framework for your crime novel. Using it will keep you on track to satisfy crime reader expectations.

But, there’s more to creating a great crime novel than story beats. Your imagination fills in the “story.” As you create your characters, evidence, and clues, and the interactions among the characters, you’ll create a story that is uniquely yours.

Interweave characters, setting, and plot to create emotional hooks for your reader. Your reader won’t care about the story until they care about your characters, especially your detective. Create a strong motivation for your sleuth to want to solve the crime. And, give your detective internal needs that drive his or her actions. Play off between the wants and needs to keep your reader caring.

Use the beats to ensure your crime novel meets reader expectations for the genre. Create character interactions that keep your reader involved.

Looking for more outlining tips?  Download this free book now  :

This  guide  helps you work out your narrative arc, plan out your key plot points, flesh out your characters, and begin to build your world.

How to Outline a Crime Novel Step by Step

Subgenres

Know Your Characters

Hero’s Journey to Outline Your Crime Novel

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