The Mystery of Desire
Why character motivations can be more important than plot, and how desire drives both. Read on for a handy chart to help if you’re stuck.
Read moreA Blog for Readers and Writers of Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction
writing process
Why character motivations can be more important than plot, and how desire drives both. Read on for a handy chart to help if you’re stuck.
Read moreSometimes you just have to admit defeat. No matter how hard you try, there’s simply no time to write. This[…]
Read moreMISS DEMEANORS ARE BACK! And we’re excited to welcome author and my fellow Anglophile Marni Graff for a conversation about[…]
Read moreWriters spend a lot of time talking to other writers. We have to. They’re the only people who understand the[…]
Read moreThere is more than one way to write a book, or better stated, to conceive a book. However, outlining is often given a harsh shake of the head. Not creative enough. Constraining.
Recently I asked a number of writers why they felt this way. More to the point, I asked them what they meant by outlining.
Read moreWords on the page. Most writers agree that this is the key ingredient to shift from wanting to be a writer to being a writer. It is certainly key to seeing your book in print. NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) was created with this in mind: words on the page. Fifty thousand words, ideally.
Read moreWhen you’re a mystery writer, you’re always trying to figure out why people do what they do. Sometimes you can[…]
Read moreISBns are the way the publishing industry identifies and tracks specific books. Especially if you are self-publishing, it’s critical for authors to understand what an ISBN is and how they are used.
Read moreFirst a confession: I was never a model student. My early report cards always included comments like “She could do so much better if she tried” and “Getting assignments in on time would help.” Even in college I struggled with a lack of discipline. I cut way too many classes, neglected to study, and left papers until the very last minute.
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