Whether you are a reader or a writer or both we all have our favorite types of mysteries that we like to read and/or write about. Personally, I like all but true crime mysteries when I’m searching for new authors to read. The cozy mysteries are generally of some character that has been dropped into solving a crime, not because of training, but due to circumstances and the need to solve the crime. With a cozy mystery, we have bakers, bookstore owners, archaeologists, antique dealers and even hairdressers out there solving a murder or crime spree of some kind. For me and lots of others out there, the fun is the possibility of an “Ordinary” person getting involved in crime solving. We all want to believe that we are smart and wily that we can outwit some would be criminal. Most of these writers can research crime-solving techniques by reading books or interviewing local police for more information.
On the other hand, for the stories about private and public detectives, I would think having experience would be a plus for a writer. For instance, there are writers out there who have actual experience with solving crimes such as former police persons, detectives both private and public, medical examiners, former military, lawyers and even crime newspaper reporters. Of course, some writers volunteer with their local police force and do “ride-alongs” to get experience in the crime field to help make their stories more believable. Several writers, we have read even have gone through different phases of police training themselves.
As writers we are always told we should, “Write What You Know”, so if you want to be a cozy mystery writer maybe you should solve crimes as one of the jobs you have had in the past. I think a Medical Office Clerk working the midnight shift in a hospital’s emergency room could take time out to solve a murder that happened in the hospital somewhere, don’t you?
For those wanting to get some practical experience, you might want to contact your local police force. In Florida, we have both city and county police forces that have volunteer or auxiliary officer training programs in almost every single county. They help fill in for major events likes concerts, festivals, and even as extra traffic officers. You will probably have to commit yourself to serving once or twice per month for a whole shift to help them defray the costs of your training and certifications and even pay out-of-pocket for your some or all of your uniform but you will gain very valuable experiences for your writing as well as help out your community.
