Let me start by stating my position very clearly. I am an advocate of using whatever tools and resources you can to make yourself a better and more productive writer (substitute whatever career path you want). Let me give some background. I grew up in […]
Why Do Some Writers Oppose Using ChatGPT? Read More »
One of the characteristics of a cozy mystery is the ordinary occupation of the protagonist. The occupation has to be one that allows the heroine the flexibility to solve crimes yet still do a plausible job of making a living. Cozy readers are, if nothing else, a practical sort of person.
The Top Ten Cozy Detective Day Jobs Read More »
There are many important characters in a mystery story. The most important character is the detective (professional, amateur, or accidental) who solves the crime and brings justice to the villain. In many mystery and thriller genres, an even more important character is the antagonist, the villain, the evil mind that pits itself against
The Importance of the Sidekick Read More »
Sally O’Brian… Ava Storm… Cynthia Pierson. My three heroines are very different people. If the people an author writes about are just extensions of her personality, I wonder what that says about me. Perhaps that’s a topic for a future discussion. In the meantime, I would like to find out which kind of
Which Heroine Are You? Read More »
Every writer goes about her craft in their own personal way. When I first started writing, at a very young age, I had two techniques that I thought served me well. First, I had a picture or image in my mind that inspired the story. And second, I had a typewriter that would allow me
My Writer’s Toolkit Read More »
One of the dilemmas I face when writing Crystal Cove novels is what is going to be the next book in the series. This should not be a problem. I have a pretty good idea of how the overall series is going to progress. I have an over-arching plot line that I follow. In
Deciding on the next book… Read More »