Let me start off by getting one thing clear. I do not use any AI program to “write” any of my stories. I have conducted many experiments with AI programs, and every last one of them fails to understand either the human condition or the writing process well enough to create a story as well […]
How I Use ChatGTP In My Writing Read More »
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 »