Tips and Tricks Archives - Miss Demeanors

LISTENING TO PODCASTS FOR RESEARCH

August 14, 2024 Lane Stone Podcasts, Tips and Tricks, True Crime, Writers inspirations

I listen to art crime podcasts to farm for ideas and to research specific topics. Here are a few I recommend:[…]

How to Write a Mystery

August 1, 2024 Susan Breen Cape Cod Writers Center Conference, Conferences, Mystery Writers of America, Tips and Tricks, Writers, Writers' Conferences

Over the next few days, I’ll be teaching a class on “How to Write a Mystery” at the Cape Cod[…]

Red Herrings

June 25, 2024 Emilya Naymark Fiction, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized, Writing

And how to pickle them I’ve always had a rather foggy idea of what a red herring was, but I[…]

Five Tips for Short-Story Success: A Guest Post by Judy Penz Sheluk

June 6, 2024 Connie Berry Short Stories, Tips and Tricks

Join me in welcoming Judy Penz Sheluk to Miss Demeanors! Judy is a former journalist and magazine editor and the bestselling author of two mystery series, several short stories, and two books on publishing. She is also the publisher and editor of four Superior Shores Anthologies. The latest, Larceny & Last Chances, will be available June 18. Today Judy is sharing some wise advice from her long experience with the short-story genre.

Tools of the Trade

May 27, 2024 MIss Demeanors #inspiration, Tips and Tricks, Writers, Writers habits

A very Happy Memorial Day to those who served, and those who still do~ I’m spread out over the end[…]

Prologues: Yes or No?

May 16, 2024 Connie Berry Tips and Tricks

Of all the tools available to fiction writers, the most maligned may be the prologue. With the possible exception of the adverb and the semi-colon, no other literary device engenders such visceral hatred. Prologues have been called “superfluous,” “tedious info-dumps,” and “a bait-and-switch technique.” Agents and editors, we’re told, hate them. But are they always bad?

Character Arcs

April 11, 2024 Emilya Naymark Creating Characters, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized, Writing

Signs and portents, my dear readers, signs and portents. Last week, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt all along the[…]

Is the Road to Hell Paved with Adverbs?

March 28, 2024 Connie Berry Tips and Tricks, Word choice, Writers habits

Is the road to hell really paved with adverbs? Heavens! None of us wants to commit a mortal writing sin, and so new writers are advised to ruthlessly cut them out of our writing. Your writing will always be stronger without them, we’re told. But is this advice always true?