As I considered advice to give writers on How to Write a Book, it occurred to me that it’s much like offering advice on how to parent; every book (or child) is different. There’s no secret formula or fool proof plan to achieve a successful outcome. In fact, most of the process is trial and [...]
Just imagine the nightmares you can create for a character suffering from a sleep disorder. Tucked safely into bed, all cozy and content; never imagining sweet dreams are just prelude to violence.
Kenneth Parks stumbled into a police station and confessed to murder. He had bludgeoned his mother-in-law and father-in-law with a tire iron [...]
Less truly is more when it comes to productivity. The less time spent to accomplish tasks, the more productive you are. Accomplishing more with less work requires creative thinking and a willingness to change. If you’ve always done something a certain way, it may feel uncomfortable when you try something new. When you see how [...]
It sounds like the plot of a Hollywood movie - A woman loses her face in a horrific crime and then she receives a face transplant. Connie Culp received a miracle five years after a shotgun blast left a ghastly hole in the middle of face. Hundreds of bone splinters were embedded in her face; [...]
1. Pronouns should follow the Nouns to which they refer, without the intervention of any other Noun.
Avoid, “John Smith, the son of Thomas Smith, who gave me this book,” unless Thomas Smith is the antecedent of “who”. Avoid also “John supplied Thomas with money: he (John) was very well off.”
When, however, one of two preceding [...]
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one [...]
The Lord of the Rings has been used as a template in so many fantasy stories; a young, naïve character must take a trek across many lands, encountering a slew of cultures and creatures along the way. Most of the names can’t be pronounced and the bad guys are usually called Orc. The reason The [...]
The New Year hasn’t brought much good news.
According to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc, the labor market faces persistent weakness in 2009, with more than 1 million job cuts expected due to weak spending among consumers and businesses. Despite a massive economic stimulus package, many don’t expect economic expansion until 2013.
But it’s not [...]
Rage is the 12th novel by Jonathan Kellerman featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and police detective Milo Sturgis. As usual, Kellerman offers a mix of psychological insights and police procedure to create a suspenseful story.
Eight years ago, two teenagers, Troy Turner and Rand Duchay, abducted and murdered two year old Kristal Malley. The [...]
If you like science fiction or you like horror, this story is for you. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) a brain eating amoeba, called Naegleria fowleri, dwells in lakes and is responsible for the recent deaths of six individuals. This killer enters the body through the nose, latches onto the [...]
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