For Writers
Hints and Tips to help you on your
writing journey.
Have a question about how to commit
a murder? What the symptoms of
poison are?
Want to dispel a Hollywood
myth? The Writer's Medical &
Forensics Lab is the perfect tool for
any mystery or suspense writer. Visit
the
doctor at The Writer's Medical and
Forensic's Lab
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Lesson #1 - Never underestimate the power of a
dare. Fudge-Laced Felonies came about as the
result of a friend challenging me, "daring" me to
write a first-person cozy. I didn't think I could do
it, but being a stubborn Irish gal, I took that
challenge. I wrote the story, entered the book
into a contest, won first place, and now have a
contract with two more in the series.
A great blog for writers is
Forensics and Faith Written
by amazing suspense writer,
Brandilyn Collins, this site is
chock full of information
presented in a fun way.
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Lesson #2 - Find a critique group, or at least a
critique partner. Be selective. As you search for a
group, find at least one of the fellow critiquers who
write in the same genre as you. The others can be
similar, but not too far removed. You want your
critique partners to be able to relate to what you
write. If you are lucky enough to find that one
partner, that one person you can critique with,
brainstorm with, and bounce ideas off of, you are
lucky indeed.
As you critique, be thick skinned. Not everyone will
like what you write. No critique group is bound in
blood. If it doesn't fit for you, back out and keep
looking. You want honesty, not cheerleaders.
Encouragers, but not someone who only tells you
what you want to hear.
Do you need an
example of a one-sheet
to submit to agents or
editors at a
conference? Here is
the for my
upcoming release,
Fudge-Laced Felonies.
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Lesson #3 - Want to get deep into your character's
pov? Write the scene in first person, then change
to third in your final draft.
Need design work?
Check out the
bookmarks, business
cards, and one sheets
below. For $50, using
your book cover art
work, I will design and
send you the results in
a file.
Cost is $50 for first
project and $10 for
each thereafter using
same bookcover art
work. Example:
bookmark $50,
business card, $10,
postcard $10, etc.
Questions answered by Literary Agent,
Kelly Mortimer of Mortimer Literary. (If
you have a question, post it on my
guest book and we'll get an answer for
you!
Other than seeing that an author might turn
out to be very successful, what else does
an agent look for when deciding on their
clients ?
Answer: I look for someone who's a
self-promoter. Someone with a positive
attitude. A quick learner. Someone who
laughs at my jokes (yes, I'm serious ... well,
I'm not serious...), someone who doesn't
take my attempts to help personally, and I
only sign pre-published authors. They're
whom I serve!
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TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BOOK SIGNING:
1 - Be Approachable. Even if you aren't a people
person, paste a smile on your face and greet
those strolling past your table.
2 - Have at least bookmarks to hand out. Insert
them in sold books and give to anyone who
shows even a little interest. It might remind them
to buy a book later.
3 - Have someone case the store with a handful
of bookmarks, handing them to anyone with
similar books or browsing the book aisle where
your book will be stocked.
Something fun
for you! An online
interactive
mystery game!
Interactive Crime
Fiction - Try to
crack the case in an
interactive murder
mystery
where you are the
detective.
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