Posts Tagged: writing fiction

National Novel Writing Month

  It’s November, and that means it’s officially is National Novel Writing Month! Whether you’re a published mystery novelist or you’re trying to break into crime fiction writing, this inspirational program is the perfect opportunity to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) and get writing. With plenty of organized activities and resources, this… Continue Reading National Novel Writing Month »

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Habits of Successful Writers

  What does it take to become not only a published fiction author, but also a successful one? The short answer involves the usual platitudes about commitment and determination. While those are certainly important, it takes more than that. Successful writers have developed good writing habits. It’s really no different than a successful athlete or… Continue Reading Habits of Successful Writers »

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How Emotional Intelligence Helps You Enjoy Good Fiction

  Did you know that emotional intelligence is directly linked to personal and professional success? Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the way we perceive and cope with the emotions of others and ourselves. In other words, it improves a person’s social effectiveness. Individuals with high EI are more self-aware than others and report a higher… Continue Reading How Emotional Intelligence Helps You Enjoy Good Fiction »

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Writing Sex Scenes – Sliding Into Home Base

Sex. What makes a fictional sex scene good? This is an important question for fiction writers because, if you’re going to include one, you need to do it right. A poorly constructed sex scene can leave readers disappointed and reluctant to become emotionally invested in the rest of the story, even if they read on… Continue Reading Writing Sex Scenes – Sliding Into Home Base »

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Writing Fiction – Crime in the City

Writing Fiction – Crime in the City

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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That Novel Won’t Write Itself – Writing to Finish

It took me 10 years to finish writing the first of my many crime novels. I like to say that I was a ten-year overnight success. I started writing Motion to Kill while still practicing law. Read about the serendipitous bit of conversation with one of my partners that got me to thinking about writing… Continue Reading That Novel Won’t Write Itself – Writing to Finish »

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Climate change, technological innovation and the writer’s challenge

Are there any new stories? I really enjoyed reading Joel’s last post about the writer’s challenge, the fine art of giving age-old tales a new slant. I imagine all stories cover the same subject matter as far as the human condition goes. A potent mix of love, hate, fear, jealousy, courage, weakness, greed, violence, redemption… Continue Reading Climate change, technological innovation and the writer’s challenge »

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