You might be surprised by how many traits writers share with serial killers. FBI profilers have actually profiled a subject only to discover s/he’s not a killer. They’re a writer. Here’s why a profiler might mistake writers for serial killers.
We work alone.
Writers spend hours alone, plotting and planning the perfect demise. We let the fantasy build until we find an ideal murder method to fit our plot, and a spark ignites our creativity. We’re giddy with excitement and can’t wait to swan-dive into our story.
Serial killers also spend hours alone, plotting and planning the perfect demise. They let the fantasy build, evolve, until they find an ideal murder method, and a spark ignites them to act. They’re giddy with excitement and can’t wait for the inevitable kill.
In fact, this stage of serial killing is called the Aura Phase.
Joel Norris PhD is the founding member of the International Committee of Neuroscientists to Study Episodic Aggression. In his book SERIAL KILLERS, Norris explains the serial killer’s addiction to crime is also an addiction to specific patterns of violence that ultimately define their way of life.
A writer’s addiction passion for crime (romance, sci-fi, fantasy…) writing is also an addiction the pursuit of patterns of violence routine that ultimately defines our way of life.
Still not convinced a profiler might mistake writers for serial killers?
During the Aura Phase, the killer withdraws from reality and his/her senses heighten. Time stalls. Colors become more vibrant as though the killer’s literally viewing the world through rose-colored glasses. The killer distances themselves from society, but friends, family, and acquaintances may not detect the psychological change.
The same is true for writers.
Think about that shiny new story. What do we do? We withdraw from reality, into our writer’s cave, and our senses heighten. Time stalls as our fingers race over the keyboard. And our worlds spring to life. On the outside we may look “normal” to family and friends while obsessing—a psychological change—over details, lots of details, details about characters, plots, subplots, dialogue, and yes, murder.
Trolling
When a killer is on the hunt he’s trolling for a victim. Rather than state the obvious, I’ll pose a question: How much time have you spent deciding which character to kill?
But they looked so normal.
How many times have we heard a reporter interview a serial killer’s friend or neighbor? And they all say the same thing. But they looked so normal. I had no idea.
Now, think about the first time a friend/relative/acquaintance read one of your gritty thrillers. Stunned, they close the cover. But they looked so normal. I had no idea this was going on inside their head. Or they’ll say to the writer’s significant other, “You must sleep with one eye open.”
Search History
Smart serial killers might research things like:
• How to commit the perfect murder.
• Will my fingerprints be in IAFIS if I’ve only been arrested for a misdemeanor? For non-writers, IAFIS stands for Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Why am I only addressing non-writers? Because writers know law enforcement acronyms, like CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), NDIS (National DNA Index System), BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit), and SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
• What’s the fastest way to dissolve a corpse?
• How long does it take to strangle someone to death?
• What’s involved in decapitation?
• Jurisdictional map of [insert state].
• How to pick a lock.
• Will a 3D-printed gun set off a metal detector?
• What’s left of a body after being hit by a train?
• Will black bears consume human remains?
• How many hours after death till rigor mortis sets in?
• Will Luminol detect bleach?
• How deep is a standard grave?
Writers, can you honestly say your search history doesn’t look similar?
An organized killer might brush up on forensics and/or law enforcement procedures to avoid detection.
How many of you have pondered: Where should I dump the corpse?
Let’s face facts, writers are a different breed. The only ones who truly understand us are other writers and writer spouses. If anyone deserves an award, it’s the writer’s family. I mean, c’mon, how many of you have dragged them to check out that out-of-the-way swamp to dump a fictional corpse? Or said, “Stop the car!” while passing a wood-chipper?
A writer’s “uniqueness” affects the whole family.
The other day “The Kid” called, his voice bursting with excitement. “I found the perfect place for a murder. No one around for miles. You could really do some damage there.”
Now, normal parents might be concerned by this conversation…but I’m a writer. So, I said, “Awesome! Shoot me the GPS.”
Y’know what? He did find the perfect place for a murder.
Is it any wonder an FBI profiler might mistake writers for serial killers? 
Hilarious and so true, Sue!
I don’t even write in the crime thriller genre and yet I still get teased about this by those close to me. (Grimdark fantasy has a high body count and we do have to stay inventive. It can’t ALL be sword cuts and blunt force trauma. Lol!)
Your gif game is on point by the way! Well done!
Haha! Thanks, Cyn. Glad you enjoyed it. 😁
Not so much a serial killer as a terrorist. I was considering a scene where the villain broke into a nuke plant in southeastern Pennsylvania to perform nuclear blackmail. I was researching layout, security force size, physical security,… After a day or so searching, I considered the trail I was leaving in the my ISPs logs and abandoned the idea. It wouldn’t have been a good fit for the story anyhow.
Haha! Perfect example, Bill. 😂
Then there’s the story of how a terrorist used your story to….
My husband was just telling someone recently about the books I have on my shelf. He says if something happens to him, those books will be the investigator’s first clues. Who else spends Sunday afternoon (as I did yesterday) on a Zoom meeting of Sisters in Crime’s Austin chapter on the subject of the body farm near San Marcos, TX. The presentation included gruesome photos of bodies being consumed by vultures (it takes less than one day for them to tear most of the flesh from a body) and the before and after of bodies burned to death in different locations and types of fires. Like a hotel room vs. a car. Fascinating information for a murder mystery/suspense writer. Horrifying for muggles–what Brandilyn Collins, mistress of ceremonies for ACFW conferences for many years–called nonwriters. I’ve written two serial killer romantic suspense novels and the research alone would terrify most people. But attempting to step inside the mind of a serial killer or writing in his POV was some of the most interesting and “fun” writing I’ve done. Thanks for the interesting perspective!
I agree, Kelly. Writing from a serial killer’s perspective is a blast. The research fascinates me, as well.
Good post, Sue. My books rarely dive into global high-stakes, but I do have a rather colorful browsing history. Anything the FBI would be interested in, however, is well hidden amongst my food-related searches.
Haha! “Hidden among food-related searches.” Sounds like my searches, as well.
Does that include cannibalism?
Just asking… for a friend, of course….
Not in my stories. 😂
Too true, Sue! How often do we crime writers joke among ourselves that we expect a knock at the door and guys in bad suits and dark glasses who want to talk to us? I can’t count the times readers have said to me, “You look like such a nice lady but you kill all these people???”
Only on paper. Really. Honest. Cross my heart.
I have been friends with Elaine Viets for many years. She has referred to her husband as the safest man in South Florida. He has survived about 30 years of a wife endlessly searching for ways to kill someone.
My children have used the phrase, “Aunt Elaine kills people for a living.” Well, she does. Oh, don’t piss off Aunt Elaine. Your paper alter ego may meet a grisly end.
Oldest child works in a building that has multiple layers of security and for good reason. It is possible she has read Brother Gilstrap’s treatise on knife fighting. It is also possible there is a knife or two on her person. Possible. It is also possible last week someone was exceptionally dumb and met the St. Louis Metro Bomb Squad.
Have any of you found any textbooks or handbooks for detectives and forensic pathologists useful for this kind of thing? How useful have they proven for storis, both in plot creation and compelling details?
Presumably, the hypothetical half-competent FBI investigators ignore such works because they and everyone they know has a copy on their bookshelf.
Or said, “Stop the car!” while passing a wood-chipper?
Hilarious, Sue! I don’t write this genre and don’t usually read it, but give me the movie, please! 🙂
What a great post for a stormy, rainy and windy Monday morning in the PNW…
You’d love JD Delay’s YouTube channel. He’s best known as an advocate for wood chippers for pedophiles and other abusers.
Am I a terrorist. I am a licensed pilot. I always carry a pen knife. One Monday I was an out of practice pilot who could fly a heavy in a simulator. I had my knife. Then the sun came up on Tuesday morning. It was cool and crisp. It was sunny. I had all of the skills and tools of some other flight students. It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
Years ago, pre-internet research, I excitedly showed my mom a book on poisons I bought for my research shelf. She replied, “You’d better pray that my death looks natural, or you are in so much trouble.”
Sue, you are spot on. My daughters were about half-way through my book when they gave me the side-eye and said, “Dad, we had no idea these kinds of thoughts were going through your head.” My wife won’t read it.
I also remember in the midst of research, looking up such things as, best sniper rifle, how to steal a car and how to create a new identity among other things. I was almost certain guys in dark suits would show up on my doorstep wanting to “talk” any day.
I remember seeing a t-shirt in a catalogue that said, Ignore my browser history. I’m a writer not a serial killer. I couldn’t find the catlogue again so I just had one made.