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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I’ve written before about sex and violence in crime fiction, but this post isn’t about that…exactly. This time I want to write about how you can spot any number of “crimes” and “sexual indiscretions” by simply observing the happenings around you and in your community. If you take note of what you witness (i.e. write… Continue Reading Sex, Crime, and Writing Great Fiction »
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Given the changes in my own life, I’m always interested in transitions, especially when unplanned and unexpected, and how others deal with them. Coping with life transitions in a healthy way can make all the difference in a person’s quality of life and potential for future success. Depending upon your point-of-view, transitions can become more… Continue Reading The 10 Commandments of Transition »
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Whether or not you “LIKE” social media, platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Twitter, they provide a great way to stay connected with your family and friends. These sites have expanded in popularity to an increasingly broad demographic of users. Parents and grandparents routinely keep up with the latest happenings and photos of their… Continue Reading The Dark Side of Social Media – Crimes, Confessions and Cops »
Read MoreAny reader of crime fiction routinely asks themself the question: who dunnit? The challenging of unraveling the mystery and figuring out the culprit makes reading these thrillers so much fun. But, equally significant, readers should ask: where did it happen? The scene of the crime, or the setting, can play a major role in the… Continue Reading You Set Me Up: Importance of Setting in Crime Fiction »
Read MoreWhy read crime novels and thrillers? Personally, I think everyone should always be reading something, regardless of genre. Since I write best selling crime novels, I recommend those for your top shelf choices [tips hat]. I’ve put together the top 10 reasons to read books, but especially crime novels:
Read MoreThe difference between good dialogue and bad dialogue can mean the success or failure of a work of fiction. Whether you’re writing novels, short stories, a script or screenplay, convincing dialogue represents one of the biggest challenges for a writer. For readers, good dialogue contributes greatly to the overall reading experience. Bad dialogue? Well, you… Continue Reading Everybody Talks – How to Write Convincing Dialogue »
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