Writing Crime Fact or Fiction for Magazines
Malicious Intent Is a Writer's Guide to How Criminals Think and Act
Sep 5, 2009
Malicious Intent by Sean Mactire, is a writer's guide to murderers, robbers, rapists and others that create violent crimes. It is a matter-of-fact book that should be read by every crime writer of fact or fiction. As a roadmap to the shadow world of the criminal mind, it begins with ancient history and moves on to today's serial and non-serial killers. Mactire examines the psychology of criminals, the development of profiling and discusses the various types of motives for crime. He explains that humans are the only creatures on earth that hunt for pleasure and kill for pleasure and sport.
Overview of Malicious Intent
Malicious Intent is composed of fifteen chapters that take the writer through what the author calls "The Face of Evil" and why humans commit crimes. The chapters include:
- The History and Hallmarks of Violent Crime
- Understanding Human Behavior
- Profiling the Criminal
- Crime Fact, Crime Fiction
- Serial Murder
- Cult Related Murder
- Sexual Predators
- Child Molesters and Child Murderers
- Victims
- The Career Criminal
- Wise Guys and Hitmen
- Drug Abuse
- Terrorists
- Women Who Kill
- Psychology in the Courtroom
Criminals Discussed in Malicious Intent
Malicious Intent describes criminals going back to 1888 up to those in the 20th Century. These include:
- Jack the Ripper
- H.H. Holmes
- Theo Durrant
- Joseph Vacher
- Ted Bundy
- Jeffrey Dahmer
- Bela Kiss
- Carl Panzram
- Peter Kurten
- Georg Grossman
- Fritz Haarmann
- Vasili Komaroff
- Joe Ball
- Dennis Nilsen
- Andrei Chikatilo
- Kenneth Bianchi
Malicious Intent takes the writer into the mind of the criminal, specifically that of the man or woman who prowls the streets, playgrounds and homes in search of human prey. It explores the fact and fiction of who these people are, why they commit their atrocities, how they choose their victims, and how police catch them.
It explores:
- The most infamous deranged killers from antiquity to the 20th century.
- Psychological differences between mass murderers, serial killers and "regular" people who commit a single murders.
- The myth of the National Satanic murder conspiracy.
- Violent idealists who become terrorists.
- Mentality and modi operandi of rapists and molesters.
- Distinctive traits of different criminal personality types.
- The Art of psychological profiling of criminals.
- Use and misuse of psychology in the courtroom.
In addition, it explains about the power hierarchies within organized crime and how nonviolent career crooks such as burglars and con men differ mentally from violent criminals.
There is no doubt that the public has a craving for stories about true crime. Readers are curious about why criminals commit their terrible acts and how they are brought to justice. It may be a lust for power or a crime of passion or an impulse crime. Whatever the motivation, Malicious Intent guides the writer through the necessary steps of creating a successful criminal fact or fiction story.
Malicious Intent includes an excellent bibliography and index.
Mactire, Sean. Malicious Intent: A Writer's Guide to How Murderers, Robbers, Rapists and Other Criminals Think. Cincinnati, OH: Writers Digest Books, 1995.
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