How To Write A Better True Crime Story - Jennifer Dornbush

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Jennifer Dornbush is a screenwriter, author, speaker, consultant, and forensic science specialist. Jennifer grew up around the forensic world as the daughter of a medical examiner whose office was located in her home.

She has been teaching and script consulting since 1997 and regularly leads seminars and workshops on screenwriting basics, writing for Hollywood, crime fiction, forensics, death investigation, and the creative life.

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[DovieRuthAuthor]

I’m glad I listened to this. My own brother’s murder in 2009 was never solved. I will contact the Cold Case Foundation. Thanks a million. x

[wolfesound]

I love creating physical case files, reports and evidence. It allows the story to swallow me so I can write without interfering with my characters.

[bcnghhwk]

just a couple of days ago, I was pondering the evolution of CSI, the TV show, over the years.
first to third or fourth season was always about Grissom analyzing the "Why". As there are always 6 questions to ask: who, where, when, why, how and what, Grissom always dealt with the "Why" by studying the psychology of the suspect.
the sequence was always "Location: Here be murder" (Where), "Here lies corpse" (later, forensics, for When or What), "This be suspect" (Who), and there was always the question of "Why". That, we got via a confession or an interrogation to breaking point.
and that was the great era of CSI: dig into the missing part, whichever it might be.... sometimes you'd get all answers, but no murder weapon (the famous ice bullet episode, for example), or no body, or no suspect (Agatha Christie's train, anyone?).
That's how you write good mystery.... keep the spectator guessing.
you can close the case by answering all questions, but never let the case round up 100%... always leave an element out for the surprise factor, like, yes, the victim was clearly shot, but where's the bullet? or, yes, the suspect couldn't have gotten away, they're still here, but where could they possibly be hiding? unless, it's all of them at the same time!

[droneeye]

One of my favourite recent interviews 😁

[Lifesizemortal]

First you have to conceptualize the crime and the criminal, then lay that out, because the crime is what happens first. Then once that is done, you lay out the investigation and the investigator. Not simultaneously.

[filmcourage]

What is the best crime story you have seen this year?

[eddiebear]

Can you have more than one scene on a page? As in can I finish scene 1 half way down a page, then start scene 2 on the same page. Or should I start a fresh page for every scene?
Example: scene 1- someone comes home from a night shift. Does a few odds and ends, drinks a beer and we stay with him all the way till he goes to sleep.
Scene 2 starts with him waking up with his alarm to something very unpleasant.
Can scene 2 start on the same page scene 1 ended?

[chasehedges]

Se7en(1995) is the BEST crime film/story ever made.

[felixmarvin]

15:49 "Oh, really? I didn't read about that!"
...
I'm pretty sure she killed him.