Category Archives: Character Development Techniques

Walking Corpse Syndrome

Posted on July 23, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I admit that both my wife and I love to watch some of the medical thrillers and police procedural shows on television. We record them and, when time permits, we take a break from life and immerse ourselves into the … Continue reading →

Posted in A Non-Murder Plot, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Murder, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, Almost Dead, Almost in a Vegetative State, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scenes, Character Development Techniques, Characteristics of Killing, Cotard Delusion, Cotard's and Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Cotard's and Distorted Body Image, Cotard's Syndrome, Developing Better Writing Skills, Fictional Character Development, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Jules Cotard, Living Dead Disease, Neuroscience, Neuroscience and Murder, People Who Live in a Graveyard, Plot Development, Plotting Murder Scenes, Science-Based Zombies, The Delirium of Negation, The Medical Zombie State, The Psychology of Murder, The Science of Murder, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead Syndrome, The Zombie Disease, Treatments for Cotard's Syndrome, Treatments for Walking Dead Syndrome, Walking Dead in Writing, Zombie Wannabe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Do Fictional Characters Evolve or Is It the Writer?

Posted on March 26, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

When developing a fictional character, there are several methods that writers can use. The first thing that usually happens, however, is that writers picture a person in their minds and that first impression of a character often sticks with them … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, All About Writing, Antagonist Development, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Characteristics of a Fictional Character, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Fictional Character Development, Protagonist Development, Steps to Developing Great Fictional Characters, Story Development, The Art of Writing, Tools of Fiction Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

GUNS – The New Pink Accessory

Posted on February 5, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

In my limited expertise of what women love (according to my wife, that is), there are many things that make a woman feel special: chocolate, the occasional bouquet of flowers for no reason, chocolate, that special birthday card, chocolate, thoughtful … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Murder, All About Writing, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Guns and Women, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Pink Guns, Pink Guns and Women, Why Women Own Guns, Women and Gun Statistics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

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

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

Fiction Character Development

Posted on November 21, 2012 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

When people learn that I write fiction, I’m often asked to describe my main characters and, specifically, they ask how I develop the concepts for those characters.  The answer is simple: from observing people in their everyday lives.  The long … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Character development, Character Development Techniques, Protagonist Development, The Art of Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Character Development Techniques

Posted on September 5, 2012 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Last month, I wrote a blog about the making of a hero in a murder mystery.  That brief exercise on character development generated considerable interest.  So today I’d like to expand those thoughts and discuss character development from a broader viewpoint. Often … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, All About Writing, Character development, Character Development Techniques, Protagonist Development, The Art of Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments