We’re super excited to be hosting a crime fiction writing competition with LBA, one of the UK’s top literary agencies. Here are five tips from LBA on getting your crime fiction novel published.

Getting Your Crime Novel Published

1) Open your novel in scene. The first 2-3 pages of your novel are key, not just for getting a literary agent but for your readers as well, so make sure that you open with immediacy, in the middle of the action.

2) For a crime fiction writer, plot is everything. You can write the most polished prose in the world but if you haven’t got a good plot then forget it.

3) A novel must be true to itself. If it’s a crime fiction novel then it must be a crime fiction novel all the way through, and not suddenly become a romance novel for 50 pages in the middle.

4) Short chapters are good. (enough said)

5) Most agents are looking for writers that are prepared to accept editorial advice from their literary agent and their editor. Since the majority of editing now happens with your literary agent rather than with your publishing house, finding an agent that you’re prepared to work with is very important. Most novelists have worked on their novels from 2-5 years so accepting significant re-writes can be difficult - but it is necessary.