The sun is shining, it’s the start of a beautiful day here in England. I’m sitting in my office preparing for a new day with a mug of Gold Blend in front of me. It’s all very mundane.

That’s got me thinking about dramatic effect. After all, what could be more ordinary these days than sitting at a laptop with a cup of coffee. My writing, reflecting this will be slow and languid. Long flowing sentences.

Crash…

A brick, a damn housebrick. Through the window. Broken glass. Everywhere.

I sit for a moment then I see the message. Write quick for dramatic effect. Short snappy sentences.

I slowly let the brick dissolve from view and go bck to staring at my laptop. Dramatic effect…

Now I know that some writing books will tell you to steer clear of the mundane and in general I agree, but there are times in your crime novel when you need to have a dramatic moment. Some say that your crime novel should be full of dramatic incidents. That’s also true. But, and it’s a biggie, you need something ton contrast these dramatic events against. So why not have your detective hero sit at their,  laptop doing something ordinary? You don’t have to labour the point, a couple of longer sentences will do. Just make sure the contrast is a s sharply defined as you can make it.

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