Category Archives: About Writing

COMING SOON – New Short Stories!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

It’s been an exciting summer! In July I published one of my favorite short stories—Cuffed. It’s a true story about a frightening yet entertaining event that happened one night long ago when I worked the graveyard shift in a local … Continue reading →

Posted in "Cuffed" by James J. Murray, A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, A New Short Story Release, A Thriller Novel, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Designing Murder Plots, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Drugs Used For Murder, Holiday Anthology, Holiday Short Stories, Lethal Medicine-The Novel, Murder With Drugs, New Blog, New Publication, New Short Story Anthology, New Short Story Collection, Short Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Science of Murder, Unique Murder Plots | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FRESH OFF THE DIGITAL PRESS!

Posted on August 7, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I don’t often shout about my successes. I tend to blog about things that help OTHER writers create THEIR successes—either through a new, interesting method of murder or suggestions for writing a better murder scene. Today, however, is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in A Jon Masters Novel, A Thriller Novel, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, Lethal Medicine Is Published, Lethal Medicine-The Novel, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Book Is Published, New International Thriller Release, New Novel Published, New Novel Release, New Thriller To Download, Published Novel by James J Murray, The Writings of James J. Murray | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pre-Order LETHAL MEDICINE!

Posted on August 5, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I have exciting news! My new international thriller Lethal Medicine is now available for pre-order! I have officially received the good news! Lethal Medicine publishes this Friday August 7th and is now ready for advanced ordering. BE THE FIRST TO RECEIVE … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, Lethal Medicine Is Published, Lethal Medicine-The Novel, New International Thriller Release, New Novel Published, New Thriller Available For Pre-Order, Published Novel by James J Murray, The Writings of James J. Murray | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Apostrophes And Their Use With Proper Nouns

Posted on July 29, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

This may seem like a silly subject to write about, but I must admit that I’ve had trouble using the apostrophe appropriately in the past, especially regarding its use with proper nouns that end in “s”. I’ve written a similar … Continue reading →

Posted in "Cuffed" by James J. Murray, A Free Short Story Offering, A New Short Story Release, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Apostrophe Use, Apostrophe Use with Nouns Ending in S, Apostrophe Use with Plural Nouns Ending in S, Apostrophes and Proper Nouns, Appropriate Apostrophe Use, Blog Writers, Blogging, Chicago Manual of Style and Apostrophes, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Grammar and Punctuation, Growing As A Writer, Medical Treatments Using LSD, Obsession with Proper Usage of the English Language, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper Use of Apostrophes, The AP Style and Apostrophes, The Art of Writing, The Associated Press Rules for Apostrophes, The Misuse of Apostrophes, The Misuse of Apostrophes with Nouns Ending in S, Tools of Fiction Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Day to Remember and A Gift For You

Posted on July 24, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Today is one of those memorable days in my life! It was busy, frustrating, exciting and ultimately thrilling. So what happened you might ask? I’ve been writing novels and short stories for several years now. Three of my short stories … Continue reading →

Posted in "Cuffed" by James J. Murray, A Free Short Story Offering, A Mystery Short Story, A New Short Story Release, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Forged Prescription Short Story, Free Book Downloads, Free Short Story Download, Growing As A Writer, James J. Murray Blog, Prescription For Murder Blog, Prescription Forgers, The Art of Storytelling, The Practice of Pharmacy, True Crime Short Story | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Scorpion Venom – A Lethal Opportunity!

Posted on May 13, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Scorpions are predatory arthropods—exoskeleton or shell-like creatures. They originated in England in the High Middle Ages (around 1200 AD). Although scorpion venom has a fearsome reputation, there are only about 25 varieties (out of the over 1,700 species) that have … Continue reading →

Posted in About Writing, Acute Poisons, All About Murder, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Bloodless Death Scenes, Chemical Poisons, Deadly Scorpion Venom, Deathstalker Scorpion Venom, Deathstalker Scorprion, Designer Drug Deaths, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs Used For Murder, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, Israeli Yellow Scorpion, Israeli Yellow Scorpion Venom, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Lethal Scorpion Venom, Murder Weapons Discussed, Murder With Drugs, New Drug Discoveries, New Drug Research, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Plotting Murder Scenes, Poisonous Scorpion Venom, Poisons Used For Murder, Scorpion Stings, Scorpion Venom, The Deadliest Scorprion, The Science of Murder, Tools for Murder, Tools of Murder, Types of Deadly Scorpions, Uncategorized, Writing Death Scenes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Powdered Glass – An Instrument of Death?

Posted on April 15, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Let’s say that you have a particularly nasty villain in your novel and want to kill him or her off in some unique way. You have a brilliant idea! Crush glass into fine shards and mix them into the villain’s … Continue reading →

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Broken Glass and Murder, Characteristics of Murder, Choosing How a Character Should Die in a Story, Crushed Glass and Murder, Deciding How to Kill Off a Character in a Novel, Designing Murder Plots, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Glass Shards and Murder, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, Killing a Villain in a Novel, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, New Methods of Murder, New Methods To Kill Characters in Your Novel, Powdered Glass and Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Science of Murder, Tools of Murder, Unique Murder Plots | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Dialogue: The Good and The Bad!

Posted on April 1, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Last week’s blog was all about character development and using the 3P model to consider physical, psychological and philosophical qualities to flesh out characters. Getting to know a character deep down is necessary before you can turn that character loose … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Authors' Social Media Support Group, Better Fictional Character Development, Blog Writers, Blogging, Characteristics of a Fictional Character, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Dialogue Techniques, Good and Bad Dialogue Techniques, Good Dialogue Development, Growing As A Writer, How Fictional Characters Should Speak, How to Write Dialogue in Fiction, Learning the Art of Writing, Proper Use of the Written Word, Protagonist Development, The Art and Craft of Dialogue Writing, The Art of Writing, Tools of Fiction Writing, Writing Better Dialogue, Writing Dialogue, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fictional Character Development Techniques

Posted on March 25, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

When people learn that I write fiction, they often ask how I develop the concepts for my main characters. The answer is simple: from observing people in their everyday lives. The long answer, however, is much more complex. While it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Better Fictional Character Development, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character development, Character Development Techniques, Characteristics of a Fictional Character, Counterfeit Drugs and the Internet, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Effective and Compelling Fictional Heroes, Developing Writing Skills, Fictional Character Development, Growing As A Writer, Learning the Art of Writing, Pharmacists as Protagonists, Protagonist Development, Steps to Developing Great Fictional Characters, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, Writing Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Makings of a Hero

Posted on March 18, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

There’s nothing better than a memorable protagonist in any story, and the good guy in a murder mystery saves the day by solving the crime and bringing the perpetrator to justice. So for the next couple of weeks, I’d like … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Better Fictional Character Development, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Characteristics of a Fictional Character, Creating Unique and Interesting Character Flaws, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Effective and Compelling Fictional Heroes, Developing Writing Skills, Fictional Character Development, Growing As A Writer, Learning the Art of Writing, Protagonist Development, Protagonists, Steps to Developing Great Fictional Characters, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments