Category Archives: Better Fiction Writing

A New Cardiac Pacemaker and Murder

Heart stimulators, commonly called pacemakers, are small devices implanted in patients to control abnormal heart rhythms. Such cardiac abnormalities are commonly referred to as heart arrhythmias, and pacemakers emit electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal … Continue reading

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, A Murder Mystery Novel, A Mystery Novel, About James J. Murray, About Murder, Advances in Cardiac Medicine, Advances in Pacemaker Technology, Almost Dead-The Novel, Better Fiction Writing, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Cardiac Pacemaker Technology, Connecting With Your Reader, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Energy Source of Pacemakers, Fiction Based on Facts, Fiction Based on Real Life, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, Heart Stimulators, Heart-Saving Technology, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Interesting Murder Weapons, Internal Pacemaker Batteries, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's ALMOST DEAD, Killing With Lethal Nanoparticles, Methods of Murder, Motion-Activated Cardiac Pacemakers, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Weapons Discussed, Nanogenerators in Pacemakers, Nanoparticle Technology in Medicine, Nanoparticles To Cure And Kill, Nanotechnology Used For Murder, New Blog, New Methods of Murder, New Methods To Kill Characters in Your Novel, Piezoelectric Pacemaker Technology, Plot Ideas and Where They Come From, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Plotting Murder Scenes, Prescription For Murder Blog, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Science of Murder, Tools of Murder, Unique Murder Plots, Unique Murder Weapons, Ways To Kill, Ways to Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Why Do People Kill?

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

Posted in a killer gene, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, All About Murder, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Characteristics of a Fictional Character, Characteristics of Killing, Characteristics of Murder, Creating Emotional Drama in a Murder Scene, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, Creating Unique and Interesting Character Flaws, Deciding How to Kill Off a Character in a Novel, Deciding What Types of Fictional Characters Fit Into Your Plot, Defining Murder, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Story Arcs, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Fiction Based on Facts, Fiction Based on Real Life, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, Fictional Character Development, Ideas for Murder Scenes, James J. Murray Blog, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, Methods of Murder, Murder - The True Definition, Murder is Defined, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Plot Development, Plot Ideas and Where They Come From, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Plotting Murder Scenes, Prescription For Murder Blog, Reasons Why People Kill, Reasons Why People Murder, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Psychology of Murder, The Science of Murder, The Warrior Gene, Types of Fictional Characters, Unique Murder Plots, Why People Kill | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Exploiting Computer Chip Flaws

In my Jon Masters thriller series, my protagonist Jon has a friend named Ed Ochoa. Ed is a computer genius and often does some cyber-magic to produce secure, and usually unavailable, information that helps Jon out of a variety of … Continue reading

Posted in A Jon Masters Novel, A Murder Mystery Novel, A New Science Thriller Novel, A Thriller Novel, About James J. Murray, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Character Driven Writing, Committing The Perfect Murder, Computer Hacking, Computer Processor Vulnerabilities, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, Creating Unique and Interesting Character Flaws, Cyber Attacks in 2018, Cyber Security Issues, Cybercriminals, Cyberterrorism, Cyberwar, Data Security, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Developing Writing Skills, Elements of Murder, Error-Free Computer Processing, Evidence Free Murder, Fiction Based on Facts, Fiction Based on Real Life, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, Growing As A Writer, Imperfect Murder The Novel, Imperfect Murder Thriller Novel, Internet Security, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's IMPERFECT MURDER Novel, James J. Murray's LETHAL MEDICINE Novel, Jon Masters Thriller Series, Lethal Medicine Thriller Novel, Lethal Medicine-The Novel, Mastering Your Craft, Meltdown Computer Chip Flaws, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Thriller To Download, Plot Development, Plot Ideas and Where They Come From, Plotting The Perfect Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, Publishing A Novel, Spectre Computer Chip Flaws, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Writings of James J. Murray, Tools of Fiction Writing, Unique Murder Plots, Using Cyber Security To Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Commas, Em Dashes, and Ellipses—Their Proper Use!

In a recent blog, I discussed how to properly use the three types of dashes in writing. Today, I’d like to further the discussion on punctuation marks, namely those used specifically to clarify or to emphasize a point. They are … Continue reading

Posted in A Writer's Psyche, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, AP Style of Ellipsis, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Chicago Style of Ellipsis, Comma Use, Correct Use of Punctuation in Fiction Writing, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Difference Between Commas, Ellipses Use, Ellipsis Use, Em Dash Use, Em Dashes and Ellipses, Grammar and Punctuation, Growing As A Writer, How to Use Commas Properly, How To Use Ellipses Properly, How to Use Em Dashes Properly, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Mastering Your Craft, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Obsession with Proper Usage of the English Language, Practicing Your Profession, Prescription For Murder Blog, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper use of Commas, Proper Use of the Written Word, Punctuation Marks, Punctuation Rules, Rules of Punctuation, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, Tools of Fiction Writing, Writing As A Special and Rewarding Career, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Propofol – The Milk of Amnesia

Propofol is a short-acting sedative-hypnotic that’s used to initiate and maintain general anesthesia. It also decreases levels of consciousness along with a loss of memory for sedation during minor medical procedures. It is administered intravenously. The drug was discovered in 1977. … Continue reading

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, All About Murder, Better Fiction Writing, Blog About Poisons in Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Bloodless Death Scenes, Deadly Drugs in America, Deciding How to Kill Off a Character in a Novel, Designer Drug Deaths, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Storyline Ideas, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Drug Misadventures, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs That Create Memory Loss, Drugs Used For Murder, Drugs Used for Near Death Experiences (NDE), Drugs Used to Murder, Elements of Murder, Growing As A Writer, How to Choose a Murder Weapon for a Plot Idea, How To Write A BloodLess Murder Scene, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Interesting Murder Weapons, James J. Murray Blog, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, Lethal Agents and Murder, Lethal Chemicals in Murder Mysteries, Methods of Murder, Milk of Amnesia, Misuses of Propofol, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Weapons Discussed, Murder With Drugs, New Blog, New Methods of Murder, New Methods To Kill Characters in Your Novel, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Plotting Murder Scenes, Plotting The Perfect Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, Propofol, Propofol and its Uses, The Science of Murder, The Writings of James J. Murray, Thrilling Short Stories, Unique Murder Plots, Unique Murder Weapons, Uses of Propofol, Ways to Murder, Writing Dramatic Murder Scenes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Committing the Perfect Crime!

I’m in the process of writing the second book in my Detective Rosie Young Murder Mystery Series. This one is called The Serial Chemist. The first in the series, Almost Dead, was a great success with a 4.8 out of … Continue reading

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, A Murder Mystery Novel, A Mystery Novel, About James J. Murray, About Murder, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Murder, All About Writing, Almost Dead, Almost Dead-The Novel, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Characteristics of Killing, Characteristics of Murder, Committing The Perfect Murder, Connecting With Your Reader, Creating Emotional Drama in a Murder Scene, Deciding How to Kill Off a Character in a Novel, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Developing Writing Skills, Evidence Free Murder, Fiction Based on Real Life, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, How to Choose a Murder Weapon for a Plot Idea, Ideas for Murder Scenes, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's ALMOST DEAD, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, Methods of Murder, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Mystery Novel, Murder Weapons Discussed, New Blog, New Methods of Murder, New Methods To Kill Characters in Your Novel, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Plotting The Perfect Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, the perfect crime, the perfect murder, the perfect murder weapon, The Science of Murder, The Writings of James J. Murray, Tools of Fiction Writing, Tools of Murder, Unique Murder Plots, Writing Death Scenes, Writing Dramatic Murder Scenes, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Changing Ordinary People into Heroes!

In last week’s blog, I discussed fiction novel character development techniques. I ended the blog by stating, “Make your characters real and believable by first making them real to you.” An evolving fiction plot is not very interesting unless there … Continue reading

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A Jon Masters Novel, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Better Fictional Character Development, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character development, Character Development Techniques, Character Driven Writing, Characteristics of a Fictional Character, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, Creating Unique and Interesting Character Flaws, Designing Murder Plots, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Effective and Compelling Fictional Heroes, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Developing Writing Skills, Fiction Based on Facts, Fiction Based on Real Life, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, Fictional Character Development, Growing As A Writer, Ideas for Creating Permanent Change, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Life Skills, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Pharmacists as Protagonists, Proper Use of the Written Word, Protagonist Development, Published Novel by James J Murray, Publishing A Novel, Steps to Developing Great Fictional Characters, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Writings of James J. Murray, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fictional Character Development 101

As many of you know, I’ve recently published my third novel. Click HERE to Review or Buy! While deep in the process of promoting that book, I can’t help but look to the future and begin another one. In last week’s blog, … Continue reading

Posted in A Jon Masters Novel, A New Novel By James J. Murray, A Thriller Novel, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Better Fiction 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, Creating Unique and Interesting Character Flaws, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Effective and Compelling Fictional Heroes, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Developing Writing Skills, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, Fictional Character Development, Growing As A Writer, Ideas for Creating Permanent Change, Imperfect Murder The Novel, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's IMPERFECT MURDER Novel, Learning the Art of Writing, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Thriller, New Thriller To Download, Pharmacists as Protagonists, Proper Use of the Written Word, Protagonist Development, Published Novel by James J Murray, Publishing A Novel, Steps to Developing Great Fictional Characters, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Writings of James J. Murray, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So, You’ve Published a Novel! Now What?

This is the question that many authors ask themselves each time one of their masterpieces goes to market. The writing, the editing, the cover art, the re-editing, the intensity to detail and all the other tasks of getting a manuscript … Continue reading

Posted in A Jon Masters Novel, A Murder Mystery Novel, A Mystery Novel, A New Novel By James J. Murray, A Thriller Novel, A Writer's Psyche, About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Murder, About Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Almost Dead, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing Writing Skills, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Drugs Used for Near Death Experiences (NDE), Elements of Murder, Fast Novel Reads, Good Books Create Emotions, Growing As A Writer, How to Create a More Productive Life, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's ALMOST DEAD, James J. Murray's IMPERFECT MURDER Novel, James J. Murray's LETHAL MEDICINE Novel, Lethal Medicine-The Novel, Mastering Your Craft, Methods of Murder, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Mystery Novel, New Blog, New Book Is Published, New Book Release, New Methods of Murder, New Novel Published, New Publication, New Thriller, New Thriller To Download, Prescription For Murder Blog, Published Novel by James J Murray, Publishing A Novel, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Psychological Effects of Publishing A Novel, The Writings of James J. Murray, What To Do After Publishing A Novel, Writing As A Special and Rewarding Career, Writing Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Making of a Hero in Fiction

There’s nothing better than a memorable protagonist in any story, but the good guy in a murder mystery or thriller is the one who saves the day by solving the crime and bringing the perpetrator to justice. As I develop … Continue reading

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Better Fictional Character Development, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Character Driven Writing, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, 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, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Protagonist Development, Protagonists, Steps to Developing Great Fictional Characters, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments