There's a fine line between a writer and a reader: all writers should be avid readers, but not all readers are avid writers. So what should one do to be a writer? Specifically, how does one exactly become a successful writer of a successful crime fiction novel? For sure, one should have more than creative imagination and mind-blowing talent to make the cut. And we all know that each writer has her own styles and techniques when writing his novel.

Skilled writer James McKenna (author of 2 crime novels, all published in paperback and two available in eBook format) says that adjusting to one's own writing style is important for preparation. One who does not take time in planning will surely have an uphill battle. And as a bonus to his fans, he shares some of his own advice on how to create a successful crime novel:

€ Think of your own set of characters. Think of each and every one of your whole story's characters, and not just the main ones. Think how would you want your characters to react to things. Even the simplest reactions to typical daily life should be thought of for each character. How would your character probably react?
€ Strategize your story's conversation flow. Will you make use of a narrator? Would you rather that your story was narrated by your own main character, or someone like an all-knowing, third-person? It would be better to create your dialogue alongside the creation and construction of each of your characters. Detail is indeed very crucial for your story's development.
€ Act out like how your characters would act. In order to create a realistic feel to it, you should be able to put yourself in the shoes of the character you're reliving. Imagine how you'd want your story's characters to feel like. To reach out to your readers and make them feel like your story's realistic, reach out to their souls by putting your own soul into your story.
€ Make your story intriguing and keep your readers guessing. A sense of mystery should be obviously present, but it would be way better if you make your readers guess and ask themselves along the way. What is happening? What clues are being dropped here? For example a definitive sign of a successful crime novel is when your readers are constantly searching for the answer, keeping them curious and guessing. Without confusing your readers, leave out parts of the story to create a very eerie and mysterious effect, and they would definitely be on edge. A plot with a twist, a mystery to it, coupled up with tense of action, is a very good read, especially for those that are interested in the genre of crime stories.

The above listed tips and pointers is just a short list compared to the whole long list of all the things you should still learn from James Mckenna when writing.