Your Crime Fiction Needs This Truth

Authenticity comes from immersion in real-world experiences, not imagination alone.

Let me share how “The Killing” showrunner Veena Sud approaches crime drama writing… And the unconventional research method that sets her work apart.

Here’s her unique framework for creating authentic crime narratives:

1. Research as Foundation

• Go directly to primary sources
• Interview real people affected by similar events
• Let actual cases guide plot development
• Transform real insights into dramatic moments

2. Visual Anchoring Method

• Find one concrete image that defines each character
• Use physical locations to unlock character understanding
• Let environment shape character behavior
• Build scenes around authentic moments

3. Slow-Burn Storytelling

• Avoid artificial cliffhangers
• Let tension build organically
• Focus on character responses over plot twists
• Trust the natural rhythm of the story

The game-changing insight: “The real world is way smarter than I am,” Sud reveals. Success in crime drama isn’t about inventing twists — it’s about discovering the dramatic truth in real events.

Her tactical advice for writers:

• Write every day without exception
• Collect observations and conversations
• Build a “treasure trove” of real-world material
• Transform research into dramatic elements

Quick mindset shift: Stop thinking about “creating” crime drama. Instead, focus on discovering and transforming the compelling stories already happening in the real world.

Keep writing,

- Brock Swinson

P.S. Here’s my full audio interview with Veena Sud.