The story isn't over yet

“Editors lose interest when the event is no longer newsworthy or relevant…” Lee Gutkind advices before going on to add that extensive research – such as the premise of this blog – can help attract an audience to a topic already covered in other forms of writing. By reading The Strange Beside Me and Conversations with a Killer and researching other non-fiction novels on Ted Bundy, it seems my idea is one of the few that is written by a party uninvolved with the case or Bundy himself.

Although the case of Ted Bundy ended many years ago, other stories from the past have been reintroduced into the media for an audience’s entertainment value. And, to my personal surprise, they were extremely popular. Some of the more ‘successful’ stories include Captain Phillips, Saving Mr Banks, The Impossible and Blackfish. 

In terms of audience, these various films could be considered so strong in their genre because they all attacked issues in a new way, introducing brand new information whether or not the majority know the facts. It is this structure that I wish to incorporate in my creative piece; Ted Bundy’s murder spree is well known but not many know his past or his motives. I intend to put all the evidence in one place in a creative genre not attempted before to my knowledge.

But the audience isn’t the only reader to consider; potential publishers also have to be considered. 

Unlike an audience, publishers won’t be looking just for entertainment from a creative non-fiction piece. Publishers, people who will be well educated on what has been done in their industry before, will be looking for something unique. From what my research has uncovered, it is an idea that doesn’t incorporate personal experiences. My idea would purely be the story of Ted Bundy and his victims, one that flows with the same narrative structure as Kate Summerscale’s The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. 

My take on this case may present similar information as researched novels, but it will also incorporate a fresh look on the subject. Now able to look back on the evidence and the life of Ted Bundy, the entire story would be brought together in a fresh narrative. The story may be over for Bundy, but it isn’t for this blogger.

How does one stop empathising with a serial killer?

What issues am I facing with Ted Bundy's story? Surprisingly a lot of personal and emotional ones! Although there are issues with the research and writing process, it's becoming extremely difficult to isolate myself from the story the further I delve into the life of Ted Bundy.

Excusing Bundy's behaviour/empathising with him

My research has uncovered truths about the childhood of Ted Bundy and his upbringing that unintentionally provoked empathy throughout this process. Such research uncovered the abandonment of a new born Ted by his mother, the violent bully that was his grandfather and the macabre thoughts of a little boy.

Without intending to, I appear to have gained a slight empathetic view on this childhood tale.  Reading about the lies that surrounded Bundy's family home, I can't help but sympathise with the poor boy, regardless of the monster he grew up to become.

I am afraid that the deeper I dig and the more attached I grow to the little boy Bundy used to be, I will soon find myself excusing how he turned out. Not only through his troubled childhood, but by digging until I find more information that would let someone off for their actions. Of course this isn't at all what I wish for my creative piece of non-fiction and so I must try to follow the advice of Isabel Wilkerson and try to strike a balance between my narrative and the subject.

Unable to contact those involved

A practical issue that I know many other writers suffer from is the inability to contact the parties involved with the story. Whilst there are still people out there I could reach out to – for example, Bundy's ex-wife – it would take a great amount of time to locate them and even more to obtain their permission to drag up the past. Not only is time a factor but I would feel immoral bringing up the past when everyone involved has tried to rebuild their lives now.


It is without these contacts that I forced to rely on the interviews and research undertaken in the late 20th century; from newspapers to case files, my research will be through the discoveries others have already made.