Writing the Crime Scene: Cops Don't Talk Like That!
By Repo Kempt
A guide to researching and writing dialogue for law enforcement characters in crime fiction.
10 Things We Can Learn About Writing from 'You’re the Worst'
In:
Character
We dig deep into Stephen Falk's complicated FXX series.
Writing the Crime Scene: Guns
By Repo Kempt
In:
Research
An article about myths, misconceptions and common mistakes when crime authors write about guns.
What Works & What Doesn't: 'Forrest Gump'
In:
Character
Films are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. And you never know why the hell some flavors are so beloved either...
Storyville: Continuing Your Writing Education
In:
Research
Some tips and advice about how to continue your writing education.
Writing the Crime Scene: Dead Bodies
By Repo Kempt
In:
Research
This is a basic guide for crime fiction writers including research tips and links. This months topic is 'dead bodies'.
8 Mini Grammar Studies in Modern Music
By Holly Kothe
In:
Grammar
Music is a great way to remember specific details. When you take a closer look at the lyrics in certian songs, you can easily remember tricky grammar devices and spend less time looking things up.
Buy Your Villain a Birthday Present: 5 More Development Exercises
In:
Character
Here are a few more prompts to get the mind juices going as you sit down and get to know your characters:
What 'Stranger Things' Can Teach Us About Characterization
In:
Character
Not only is "Stranger Things" great television, it's also a required lesson in quality characterization.
I Am So Evil - The Problem With Devilish Bad Guys
By Leah Rhyne
In:
Character
Does your bad guy know he's bad? Does she want to hurt people? Or is your bad guy one who thinks, "Hmm...I'm the good guy here."? Which is more compelling? An exploration of antagonists.
How to Persevere in Your Writing
By Beth Lewis
In:
Rewriting
You've got a long road ahead of you. Here's how to persevere.
6 Tips For Cleaning Up Your Dirty Words (Grammatically, Of Course)
By Holly Kothe
In:
Grammar
You don’t want your expletives to be too dirty. I mean, the fun kind of dirty, yes, but dirty, lousy with grammar and punctuation mistakes? No fuckin’ way.
Storyville: Introducing Your Children to Horror
In:
Research
A guide to turning your kids on to horror.
12 Grammar and Writing Tips from Archer
In:
Grammar
The animated show 'Archer' is a grammar-lovers wet dream.
5 Tips on Researching Legal Jargon for Writers
By Repo Kempt
In:
Research
Whether your protagonist is a hotshot attorney walking into a murder trial or a convicted criminal awaiting his appeal, it’s important that you maintain your authority by using the correct jargon.
10 Mistakes (Almost) Every Rookie Writer Makes — Part Two
In:
Grammar
Or, Stuff That Makes You Look Wet Behind the Ears, Part Two: The Craft Edition.
Modifier Makeovers: Go From Basic to Belle-of-The-Ball with These Simple Tricks
In:
Grammar
A Primer on Modifiers.
They Alive, Dammit! ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ and Strong Character Arcs
In:
Character
It's a miracle!
Storyville: Six Dark Contemporary Films That Can Inspire Your Fiction
Here are some of my favorite recent films, and ways they can inform and inspire your writing.
The Optical Illusion of Perspective In Storytelling
In:
POV
Skilled writers perform a kind of optical illusion of the mind's eye, creating language that matches and expands upon our own real life experiences.
What Works & What Doesn't: 'Badlands'
In:
Structure
How effective is the first act of Terrence Malick's debut feature on the page?
Finding Poetry In Computer Code
In:
Structure
Is there a linguistic elegance to code? Is it only ever for issuing commands, or can it be for the enjoyment of the programmer?
Five (Dirty Little) Truths about Proofreading
In:
Grammar
No one wants your book to be perfect more than your proofreader. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done.
Storyville: The DOs and DONTs of Running a Successful Kickstarter Campaign
In:
Research
Advice on how to run a successful Kickstarter campaign from someone who's done it.
Finding Story Inspiration in Strip Clubs
By Rob Hart
In:
Research
If you want to get the feel for a town, strip clubs are a good place to start. Rob Hart shares his strip club experiences and how they've influenced his new novel, CITY OF ROSE.
