Recently, I shared some tips with you about how to read more and why. Today, I hope to inspire you to write more. As with anything else, the more you write, the better you get. I’m not going to fill you with a bunch of bull by telling you how regular writing will change your… Continue Reading Keep Plotting and Write On »
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Many fiction writers (especially early on in their careers) seem to agonize over chapter lengths. How long should each chapter run? Can I get away with a one-page chapter, or with a very lengthy one? I’m here to alleviate your fears and concerns by letting you in on a secret: there isn’t a perfect chapter… Continue Reading Things To Know About Chapter Length in Your Novel »
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Reading a great book is one of my favorite things in the world. Novels offer a way to escape, even if just briefly, the everyday. A well told story whisks you away and puts you directly into the minds and bodies of fascinating characters. I like to think of reading fiction as a sort of… Continue Reading How to Read More and Why »
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When building a case against a criminal suspect, authorities collect information and evidence from a variety of sources. It’s hard to imagine a person being wrongly convicted of a crime and serving years, even decades for something he or she didn’t do. But the reality is that this does happen – and maybe even more… Continue Reading Dangers of False Positives in Crime Investigations »
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All the controversy and hand wringing surrounding the JK Rowling pen name debacle got me to thinking about pen names. Did you realize that even before Rowling wrote The Cuckoo’s Calling as Robert Galbraith, she used a pen name? According to her website, her official name is Joanne Rowling, but she chose to write under… Continue Reading On JK Rowling, Pen Names, and Co-Authoring Books »
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I’m happy to let you know that my latest crime novel, Stone Cold, recently hit the number one spot on Amazon, which is always a big thrill for me. Those numbers change hourly, so it might not still be number one by the time you read this, but it’s still a kick and lights a… Continue Reading Stephen King, Teen Fiction, Crime Novels and Opening Lines »
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It’s confession time for all you crime fiction writers out there: are you a plotter or a pantster? And why are you a plotter rather than a pantster, or vice versa? Last week, at ThrillerFest, I participated in a panel discussion with other crime writers about whether it’s better to outline your story first, or… Continue Reading Writing Crime Fiction – Are You a Plotter or A Pantster? »
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NPR’s summertime series Crime in the City focuses on fictional detectives and the cities they call home. It’s very interesting to hear the featured authors talk about their cities and how they incorporate the nuances and flavor of these places into their crime novels. The Crime in the City reporters explore this concept as well… Continue Reading Writing Fiction – Crime in the City »
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Recent research has shown that both reading and writing have a very positive impact on the brain and can even slow cognitive decline as we age. I like to think of it as a sort of Vulcan mind meld where instead of sharing the thoughts, experiences, memories, and knowledge of another physical person, we share… Continue Reading Hardwired for Reading and Writing – Literary Vulcan Mind Meld »
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It’s July 4th, Independence Day, and Americans all over the country are planning and preparing to celebrate the birth of this great nation. Reflecting on the Revolutionary War over 225 years ago, I think about the immense courage the revolutionaries had to muster to take on imperial Britain. The sheer audacity and defiance exhibited by… Continue Reading How Every Day Can Be Independence Day »
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