Make Them Suffer
It is a truth universally acknowledged that characters in novels, especially in mysteries, thrillers, crime and horror MUST SUFFER. I[…]
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Author: Emilya Naymark
Emilya Naymark is the author of the novels Hide in Place Behind the Lie.
Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.
She lives and writes in the Hudson Valley
The Physical Act of Writing
Writing can be exorbitantly taxing on the body. From magnetic keyboards to stretching, there are ways to alleviate the aches and pains that accompany regular hours spent at a desk. Read on to find out how.
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Why Writing is Like Acting
The key to writing enduring stories is to create real characters who feel real emotions in real situations–that you’ve imagined. Next time you’re not sure how to write a scene from the inside out, try one of these 5 acting exercises and get in character.
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A Genre by Any Other Name
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m constantly having to look up genre conventions. Traditional mystery? High concept? Thriller? Suspense? Domestic Suspense? Cozy? We’re told we need to stick to the rules of our genre, and read widely in it so we know what to do. But there are so many sub genres! I’m ALWAYS getting lost.
A Handy, and Hopefully Less Mysterious, List
(this is not inclusive, and I’m sure I missed some. But I tried)
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Sentient AI–a Mystery or Not?
A few days ago, a Google engineer had been put on leave for publicly saying the chatbot they’ve been developing is sentient. After months of testing it, which involved trying to see if it could turn murderous or hateful, he’d come to the conclusion that it was an independently “thinking” entity. With feelings. Although this is more a story about a very smart person who clearly needs to get out more and chat with real humans, it sent me down a rabbit hole of ethical, psychological and scientific questions.
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Writing Awards
This past weekend saw the presentation of ITW’s 2022 awards for books and stories published in 2021. I’ve read two of the winners and can wholeheartedly say they deserved every accolade.
So, in honor of award season, and if you’ve published or will publish anything in 2022, here’s a list of industry recognized awards you can submit your work to for next year. I mean, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
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An Interview with thriller writer Jaime Lynn Hendricks
Jaime Lynn Hendrick’s debut, Finding Tessa released last year to great success and greater reviews. I caught up with this extremely prolific author (how prolific? VERY), and asked her to share a little about her publishing journey and writing practice. The answers are delightful, intimidating, and inspiring.
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In person events, signings, book tours
I’m only now beginning to realize the wealth and breadth of in person events that are available to authors. From what I’m hearing, online launches and panels aren’t going away either, and podcasts are on the ascendancy.
In other words, there’s a plethora of ways to get the word out about your book baby.
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7 Publishing Industry Podcasts for Writers
I love podcasts. But being a writer, my favorite podcasts are ones that help illuminate some aspect of the publishing world. Check out this list of helpful shows, curated just for the Miss Demeanors’ readers.
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9 Mystery Writers Confess to Guilty Pleasures
What is your current guilty pleasure?
Let’s assume we’re talking books or television :-). I’ve been bingeing season 2 of Bridgerton, which is very silly, predictable, and can best be described as a young lady’s wildly historically inaccurate fantasy of Regency-adjacent alternate universe. But every night, I look forward to watching it. I don’t even understand why I do. There are two “teenage” characters played by women in their thirties and some of the characters who are meant to be in their twenties look twice that old. I don’t care.
It’s fluffy and relaxing. I don’t have to think too hard and I know nobody will be hurt too badly. There will be a happy ending, lots of pink and lavender dresses, and everyone is buff.
And you?
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