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4 ways to get noticed by indie crime fiction and thriller writers

Want to work with more independent crime fiction and thriller writers? Louise Harnby shares 4 tips that will help those authors find you and choose you to edit for them.

What’s included in this post

  • Shout your specialism from your home page
  • Include relevant key words in H1 headers
  • Solve problems with useful content
  • Feature the genre in your online directory listings

Shout your specialism from your home page

Imagine you’re browsing the shelves in a bookshop. The title on the front cover and the imagery surrounding it are the first things you’ll notice. An editor’s home page functions similarly.

If you want to communicate a message to a potential client that tells them you’re engaged with the kind of fiction they’re writing, a relevant header at the top of your home page signals your commitment and reassures the author that they’re in the right place.

Here’s what’s at the top of my home page:

That text tells a visitor not only what I do, but also what I don’t do. 

And that means I don’t waste time fielding queries from students, academics, businesses, charities and editing agencies seeking a proofreader or editor for text about sociology, veterinary medicine, quantum physics and a ton of other subjects I have no interest in editing.

If you specialise in more than one genre, that’s fine. In that case, think about other navigation tools you can use to signal that crime and thriller editing are part of your wheelhouse. For example:

  • Create a dedicated crime and thriller editing page
  • Link to that page via a dedicated tab, image or button

Include relevant key words in H1 headers

When a user types a query into the search engines, Google looks for relevant content that answers their question.

H1 headers are the strongest signallers of relevance, so using key words such as, for example, ‘crime fiction’, ‘thriller’ and ‘mystery’ in H1 headings on your website is more likely to get you found and ranked when a potential client uses those words in their search query.

There should be only one H1 header on every page of your website, so think about which pages might benefit from a specialism signal. For example:

  • Home page: e.g. ‘Developmental editing ​for crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers’
  • Blog post titles: e.g. ‘How much does crime fiction editing cost?’
  • Dedicated specialism page: e.g. ‘Thriller editing’
  • Services page: e.g. ‘Editing and proofreading for crime fiction writers’
  • Learning centre page: e.g. ‘Resources for thriller writers’

Solve problems with useful content

One of the best ways to prove that you’re engaged with any genre – and know how to edit it brilliantly – is to create useful content that shows rather than tells your interest and expertise. 

Here are 6 ideas for great content related to crime fiction and thriller editing:

  • Blog post: What is a police procedural in crime fiction?
  • PDF fact sheet: 10 tips for self-editing your crime novel
  • Booklet: How to punctuate dialogue in a thriller
  • Video: How to create suspense in thrillers, mysteries and crime fiction
  • Audio: How do I make my crime writing more engaging for readers?
  • Free webinar: How to structure an espionage novel

Creating content is time-consuming, but there are multiple benefits in addition to demonstrating your editorial knowledge:

  • Permanence: You create it only once, but it works for you forever.
  • Productivity: You can link to it in your editorial reports.
  • Efficiency: It can be repurposed in multiple formats. 
  • Findability: It’s discoverable in the search engines.
  • Professional development: Creating the content requires research and thought, which means you’re enhancing your skills and knowledge.

Feature the genre in your online directory listings

If you advertise in online directories such as those hosted by AFEPI or the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), include relevant keywords in the spaces that are discoverable by the directory’s internal search engine (if there is one) and visible in the listing (if that option is available). 

Here’s what my top-line information looks like for my entry in the CIEP Directory of Editorial Services.

Summing up

If you want to get noticed by crime fiction and thriller writers, show them that you’re a great fit by making your specialism visible in keyword searchable online spaces. Then prove it by offering them content that solves their problems. 

You’ll wow your potential clients and improve your owning editing practice in the process!

Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with crime, mystery, suspense and thriller writers.

She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), a member of ACES, a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and co-hosts The Editing Podcast.

The views of the author do not necessarily reflect the views of AFEPI Ireland.