So you want to write true crime. Great. But where do you start? In this limited series, journalist James Renner walks aspiring writers through the process of writing and publishing true crime stories, beginning with "How to pick the perfect crime" to "How to market your book."
James Renner is the author of several works of true crime, including the books True Crime Addict and Little, Crazy Children. He currently hosts two podcasts, True Crime This Week and The Philosophy of Crime.
For more info, visit James Renner.com (https://jamesrenner.com/)
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You’ve written a great crime story. Now, you have to tell the world. Where does one begin when you have no experience in marketing or publicity?
Objectives:
Participants will better understand the ugly business of book marketing; how it works, how to influence the results, and when to go out on your own.
Suggested Reading:
19 Ways to Promote a Book: https://scribemedia.com/how-to-promote-book/ (https://scribemedia.com/how-to-promote-book/)
How to Promote: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/05/18/how-to-promote-a-book (https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/05/18/how-to-promote-a-book)
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20 Mar 2023
On Writing True Crime: Submitting Your Story.
Writing the story is half the journey. Now you need an agent and publisher. But where do you begin?
Objectives:
Participants will discover how to submit to professional agents and editors. This separates the real writers from the amateurs.
Suggested viewing:
Alyssa Matesic YouTube channel on publishing: https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic (https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic)
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20 Mar 2023
On Writing True Crime: Writing and Editing
Every crime story has a common structure. It’s up to you to know when to subvert the rules. A look at how the sausage is made - what goes into good crime writing?
Objectives:
Participants will learn how to manage their writing time and how to organize their story into a compelling narrative structure.
Suggested Reading:
Writing True Crime: https://www.janefriedman.com/writing-true-crime-qa-with-janis-thornton/ (https://www.janefriedman.com/writing-true-crime-qa-with-janis-thornton/)
The Power of True Crime Writing: https://crimereads.com/the-power-and-the-responsibility-of-true-crime-writing/ (https://crimereads.com/the-power-and-the-responsibility-of-true-crime-writing/)
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20 Mar 2023
On Writing True Crime: Research and Interviews
An in-depth discussion about best practices when it comes to interviewing families and law enforcement officials connected to crimes.
Objectives:
Participants will learn how to submit FOIA requests and what is covered under Sunshine Laws.
Suggested reading:
Tips for interviewing victims: https://dartcenter.org/resources/tips-interviewing-victims-tragedy-witnesses-and-survivors (https://dartcenter.org/resources/tips-interviewing-victims-tragedy-witnesses-and-survivors)
Advocating for victims: https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/ncvrw2019/info_flyers/message/eng/2019NCVRW_AdvocatingWithMedia_eng_508.pdf (https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/ncvrw2019/info_flyers/message/eng/2019NCVRW_AdvocatingWithMedia_eng_508.pdf)
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20 Mar 2023
On Writing True Crime: Picking the Perfect Crime
So you want to write true crime. Great. What sort of cases do you want to write about? Solved? Unsolved? Current? Historical? Journalist James Renner walks through the pros and cons of each.
Objectives:
Participants will better understand the differences between covering solved and unsolved crimes.
Suggested reading:
Animals, by Chris Jones: https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a12653/zanesville-0312/ (https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a12653/zanesville-0312/)
Anna Delvey, by Jessica Pressler: https://www.thecut.com/article/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html#_ga=2.51948521.1965596281.1672763816-1586900800.1667489273 (https://www.thecut.com/article/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html#_ga=2.51948521.1965596281.1672763816-1586900800.1667489273)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
2.3 / 5
6 ratings
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