The Stages of Writing a Story

As a crime thriller author writing a series, my process begins with a single word—a four-syllable “I” word that carries criminal weight and thematic depth. Each book in the Sean McPherson series bears such a title: Indelible, Iconoclast, Impervious, Iniquity, Illusionist… The word must intrigue, unsettle, and hint at the kind of crime that could unravel within its meaning.

I always choose at least one title word in advance. That way, I can seed breadcrumbs in the current manuscript—subtle clues, thematic echoes, and narrative threads that lead readers toward what’s coming next.

Once I land on a promising “I” word, I dive into real-life crimes that resonate with its tone and implications. I’m looking for sparks—cases that can be reimagined into a fictional investigation worthy of Sean McPherson’s attention. The crime must challenge him emotionally, intellectually, and morally.

From there, the story takes off. It builds layer by layer, scene by scene, until it "barrels along like a freight train"—as Jeffrey L. Diamond, author of the addictive Ethan Benson thrillers, said of my series.