For centuries, detectives in novels have amazed reader with their powers of observation and ability to find the smallest clues, to solve the biggest mysteries. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie are household names, thanks to their stories and the detective they've created.

Over time, detective stories have grown in popularity. The common elements that tie together the detective stories from centuries ago and those written today, is they all have a detective solving a crime. The detective can range from a little old lady to a seasoned private eye. The crimes can include blackmail, kidnapping, theft and, of course, murder.

You may see hundreds of crime news stories online every day. Real life stories. Everyday real-life detectives work on cases, trying to solve them. These real-life stories can be the basis of the next great detective story. And that detective story might be written by you.