Criminal Minds

 

 

Have you ever themed a book or a story around a holiday or a specific time of year? What do you think about writing something aimed at a certain holiday or event? Are you limiting your audience or taking advantage of the season like a singer releasing a Christmas album or a TV show doing a Halloween themed episode?

Personally, I’ve never written a book or a story around a specific holiday or a specific time of year, but I wouldn’t thumb my nose at those who do. Funny, when I read this question, my mind automatically went to Christmas. It is my favorite holiday and I appreciate all things that highlight that most wonderful season. And while I have never written a Christmas story, I have loved a few. One that comes immediately to mind is Danielle Steele’s, The Gift. It’s a sweet little story that is all about human kindness, compassion, and love, ideas that are becoming harder and harder to find on this current timeline.

I did contribute a story to the popular Noir series, Cleveland Noir. My story was called Bitter. The theme was murder and revenge in Cleveland. Did I feel limited writing that story? Not at all. I’d argue that, in that instance at least, having that narrowed focus helped corral all the wandering ideas that tend to sprout up while you’re trying to focus on the one story. And it was so fun to write. Imagine being asked to write a short story that includes the neighborhood you grew up in and allows you to exact some revenge, in print at least, on an old foe, real or imagined. Good times.

While some may think that writing a story based on a pre-determined theme, be it the holidays or any number of topics, are limiting for the reader, I see them as opportunities to enhance the space that the world around you is already in. I imagine that just like me immediately turning my music to my Christmas playlist the day after Thanksgiving, there are readers that can’t wait to settle down into a good story that is based on their favorite holiday.

After all, I can’t imagine anything cooler than curling up in your favorite reading spot and immersing yourself into a tale that is set exactly where your heart is at that time. And remember, whether it is Halloween, Turkey Day, or Christmas doesn’t matter. You, dear writer, still decide where the story takes you. So, my thriller, horror, suspense writers, feel free to off Santa, the Easter bunny, or the Great Pumpkin, at will, if that’s your pleasure.