Category Archives: About Writing

Create An Action-Packed New Year!

Posted on January 8, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Before you roll your eyes at yet another lesson about New Year’s resolutions, here are some practical suggestions to help you 1) make realistic goals, 2) plan them logically, and 3) keep yourself on track to meet those goals. First … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Running, About Writing, Achieving Perfection, Changing Your Life in The New Year, Creating Change in the New Year, How to Create a Better Life, How to Create a More Enjoyable Life, How to Create a More Productive Life, How to Create a More Satisfying Life, How to Implement New Year's Resolutions, How to Make New Year's Resolutions, Life-Altering Goals, Modern Approach to New Year's Resolutions, New Life Goals, New Year's Resolutions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flowering Plants – Beautiful But Deadly

Posted on December 11, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

As many of you know, I write about MURDER, MAYHEM and MEDICINE.  It’s the focus of my website, and the novels I’m writing always contain a healthy dose of each. With years of experience as a clinical pharmacist prior to … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Writing, All About Murder, Blogging, Botanical Murder Weapons, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs From Oleander Plant, Drugs Used For Murder, New Drug Discoveries, New Drug Research, Oleander Plant, Oleander Poisoning, Oleandrin, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Plant Poisons, Tools of Murder, Yuletide Short Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

WRITING vs RUNNING

Posted on November 20, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

This past Sunday I participated in a Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon Race. I’ve run full marathons (26.2 miles) before, but this time I was running the half (only 13.1 miles). Since I’ve been training for speed in my runs, the shorter … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Running, About Writing, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Developing Writing Skills, Difference Between Running and Writing, Learning the Art of Writing, Training for a Marathon, Training for a Running Race, Writing Skills and Running Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

THOMAS RYDDER & HIS NEW BOOK

Posted on October 23, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Thomas Rydder, a good friend and a talented author, announces the release of his new URBAN FANTASY ANTHOLOGY: RESTLESS SOULS 3 dark fables 1. “Do Unto Others” (short story) – Jeremy is a street hood, lawless and unchained. When he … Continue reading →

Posted in About Author Thomas Rydder, About Writing, All About Writing, Colors by Thomas Rydder, Do Unto Others by Thomas Rydder, Paranormal Thrillers, Restless Souls by Thomas Rydder, Simona Says by Thomas Rydder, The Clearing by Thomas Rydder, Urban Fantasy Anthologies, Urban Fantasy Paranormal Thrillers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

PROLOGUES – To Use or Not To Use!

Posted on September 25, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Often I blog about using interesting methods to develop murder plots, and sometimes murder mystery writers use a prologue to set up their story – possibly with an actual murder scene or with a scene that gives valuable information to … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, How to Use Prologues, Misuse of Prologues, Plot Development, Prologues, Proper Use of Prologues, Purpose of Prologues, Story Development, When Not to Use Prologues, Why Use Prologues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Why Do People Kill?

Posted on August 28, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

It’s a simple question, but people have been struggling to find the answer for centuries.  In last week’s blog I discussed the core legal definition of murder but asked this very question as I researched the subject. And law enforcement … Continue reading →

Posted in a killer gene, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Character Development Techniques, Characteristics of Killing, Characteristics of Murder, Defining Murder, Murder is Defined, Reasons Why People Kill, Reasons Why People Murder, Story Development, The Definition of Murder, The Psychology of Murder, The Science of Murder, The Warrior Gene, Why People Kill | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Murder – The True Definition

Posted on August 21, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

The criminal act known as MURDER is defined in a number of ways, but in most references the definition is distilled to the following words: an unlawful killing with malice. The words unlawful and malice give the term its defining … Continue reading →

Posted in a killer gene, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Characteristics of Killing, Characteristics of Murder, Defining Murder, Murder - The True Definition, Murder is Defined, Reasons Why People Kill, Reasons Why People Murder, The Definition of Murder, The Science of Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mysteries vs Thrillers

Posted on June 26, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

A few years ago, mysteries were the hot genre. It seemed as if everyone was reading a mystery novel. The thrill of guessing, “Who done it!” was the excitement that kept me, and many others, reading book after book. More … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Writing, Blogging, Difference Between Mysteries and Thrillers, Mysteries and Thrillers Compared, Mysteries Vs Thrillers, Role of Suspense in Mysteries, Role of Suspense in Thrillers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I’m a Writer – No Other Label Needed!

Posted on February 27, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I started my professional career as a pharmacist: a graduate pharmacist first, then a registered one, and then a clinical one. Those labels defined not only who I was, but it described in a single word what I had achieved. … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Writing, The Art of Writing, What writers are called!, Writing Labels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The Next Big Thing!

Posted on January 30, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Two writer friends of mine, Paul Anthony and Clive Eaton, recently “tagged” me for a “chain blog” called The Next Big Thing. It works like this: you answer a specific set of questions about your current work-in-progress and then invite … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Blog Rolls, Blog Trends, Blog Writers, Blogging, The Next Big Thing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments