The Cold Case Breakthrough
Create a narrative that follows the journey of a detective who solved a cold case that had been dormant for decades. Highlight the breakthroughs, set-backs, and the emotional toll on both the investigator and the victims' families.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
Writing true crime books
A real crime, investigated on the page.
True crime reconstructs real crimes and the investigations that followed. The best of it is serious journalism that asks what a crime reveals about a place, a time or a justice system.
What readers expect
- Deep reporting and research
- Suspense, even when the ending is known
- Victims treated as people
- Questions about justice
A tip before you start
The victims are real people with families who may read your book. Respect earns readers' trust and keeps you on the right side of the law.
More True Crime prompts
- Four Sides of a CrimeTell the story of a crime from the perspective of different people involved: the perpetrator, the victim, law enforcement, and the defense attorney.…
- The Capture of a Notorious CriminalDescribe the events leading up to and following the capture of a notorious criminal. Include perspectives from law enforcement, the criminal, and the…
- Reopening a Famous Cold CaseChoose a well-known crime from the past century and reimagine the investigation with today’s technology. How would modern forensics, digital…
- Inside a Puzzling CaseCompile a series of interviews with various professionals in the criminal justice system—detectives, forensic scientists, judges, and defense…
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