Writers use words to capture the imagination of their readers, carefully crafting their stories into page-turning books. Law enforcement agencies also examine words—the words found in witness statements—to determine deception. Statement analysis is the forensic study of the language of deception. Experts can determine concealed information, lies, and deception through the writer’s choice of nouns, pronouns, and verbs; what is included in the statement and what is left out. The simple decision to use a definite vs an indefinite article reveals the writer’s thinking. Learn how you can create accurate situations, gripping scenes, and revealing dialog in your novels.
