Hey word nerds! The holiday season is in full swing, so we thought we would present a holiday-themed round-up full of posts from our archives for you to enjoy. Whether you want some advice on how to get some writing in during this busy time or maybe you want to explore some podcast episodes or… Read more »
In the summer of 2017, I attended ThrillerFest—the International Thriller Writers annual conference. A senior editor from Publishers Weekly (PW) was interviewed during one of the luncheons. He offered insights on the magazine’s book review process. I began to wonder what it would be like to review books for the publication, to have the privilege… Read more »
It’s award season for crime fiction writers. In this piece, I’m going to discuss the national-level crime fiction awards, their selection process, and why being crowned “winner” may or may not be a big deal for writers and readers. Awards Sponsored by Genre Groups The Edgars The Edgar awards, named in honor of Edgar Allan… Read more »
Hey there word nerds! Today’s show is our last episode of 2018 so Happy New Year everybody! And this episode is an especially awesome one because it features three members of my awesome DIY MFA team. I am so excited to have DIY MFA columnists Melanie Marttila, Brenda Joyce Patterson, and Stacy Woodson on the… Read more »
Collective blogs, short story anthologies, and shared public events are just some ways crime fiction writers are banding together to increase their reach and marketing footprint. This trend is not only great for writers, but also great for readers. Collective Crime Fiction Blogs A collective crime fiction blog is just like it sounds. A group… Read more »
The holiday season always reminds me of my mother’s sugar cookies, warm sweaters, and cozy mysteries—novels, short stories, Hallmark Movie Mysteries—any variety will do. I love sipping an Eggnog Latte curled under a warm blanket reading (or watching) a good cozy mystery while the rest of the world rages outside. There’s something about the familiar… Read more »
Let’s be real: crime fiction conferences are expensive and time consuming. But there are other ways to be part of the crime fiction community and you can do it from your own backyard. Join A Crime Fiction Organization Several genre groups support the crime fiction community. International Thriller Writers represents professional thriller writers from around… Read more »
In May, I attended a screening of Jaws at the Metrograph in New York City, hosted by Arts in the Armed Forces (AITAF). The film concluded with a talk back session with actor Adam Driver and director/ screenwriter Steven Soderbergh. It was an incredible learning experience, and I left wondering if other opportunities and resources… Read more »
In April, bestselling authors Steven James and Robert Dugoni taught the ninth Novel Writing Intensive (NWI) at the Eureka Inn, in Jonesborough, Tennessee. There were only twelve seats, and I managed to grab one before the event was waitlisted. (And I’m so glad!) It was an amazing chance to learn from two master storytellers. I… Read more »
Some writers love the short story format while other writers hate the creative confines of a restricted word count. However, short stories have value that go beyond entertainment. Here are seven reasons why you should try writing one: 1) Flesh out a new character or story idea Writing a short story is a great way… Read more »
