As a crime fiction author, I’m often asked how a sleuth can be present for the action without seeming contrived.
In this video, I share my thoughts on writing an observant, community-connected protagonist who credibly “just happens” to be around. I give examples like a postmistress or reporter—characters plugged into the grapevine who would catch wind of brewing scandals and tensions.
However, I caution that coincidences and contrivances should be avoided to keep things feeling organic. The sleuth’s involvement needs to arise naturally from who she is.
Ultimately, with creativity and care, an “always around” sleuth can work!
I know crime writers can find the perfect scenario. What techniques have you used to seamlessly involve your protagonist? Have you ever written a character who seems to always be at the heart of the action? What strategies did you use to make their presence feel natural?
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
The question is: in crime fiction, instead of the sleuth getting involved, can she just always be around? Just be there?
That’s an interesting question. You know, there are busybodies who kind of always find themselves in the know. She could be the postmistress in the village post office, and everybody goes in to get their mail, and so therefore she is in the know. She overhears things like that.
Maybe she’s a newspaper reporter who is always following the local news and so sits in the back at the city council meetings and the school board meetings and the zoning discussions. So she’s aware of who’s fussing with whom and whether it gets heated or not.
I could see—you see I’m playing devil’s advocate a little bit, right?—I could see coming up with a scenario in which yes, she’s there, but be careful. Avoid coincidences, avoid contrivances. However it is that she happens just to be there, it has to be organic, feel natural, feel seamless.
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Thank you so much.
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