Category Archives: Developing Better Writing Skills

The Narcissus Plant – Pretty But Deadly!

Posted on February 15, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I’ve blogged before about some deceptively attractive plants that can be lethal when ingested, and I have one more to add to the list. Parts of the beautiful, flowering narcissus plant can be quite poisonous and deadly! Narcissus is a … Continue reading →

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, About James J. Murray, About Murder, About Writing, All About Murder, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Botanical Murder Weapons, Botanicals That Kill, Chemicals Used For Murder, Common Varieties of Narcissus Plant Family, Contact Poisons, Daffodil Plant Dangers, Deadly Daffodil Bulbs, Deadly Poison Lycorine, Deadly Poisons Discussed, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Story Plots, Drug Poisoning, Drug Poisoning in Children, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs Used For Murder, Eating Poisonous Plants, 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, Jonquil Plant Dangers, Killing a Villain in a Novel, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, Killing With Poisonous Plants, Lethal Botanicals, Lethal Poisons, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Weapons Discussed, Murder With Poisonous Plants, Narcissus Plant Dangers, New Blog, New Methods To Kill Characters in Your Novel, Plants That Kill, Plants Used For Murder, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Poisonous Daffodil Bulbs, Poisonous Narcissus Plant, Poisonous Plants, Poisons and Murder, Poisons Used For Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Science of Murder, Tools for Murder, Top 10 Most Poisonous Plants, Unique Murder Plots, Unique Murder Weapons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Making of a Hero in Fiction

Posted on February 8, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

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

Lying for a Living!

Posted on October 26, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

FICTION => A Believable Lie -> Taking a small bit of truth or fact and evolving that into a web of deceit, dishonesty or lethal acts (at least in my novels). That’s what we do as fiction writers. We lie … Continue reading →

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Characteristics of Killing, Creating Emotional Drama in a Murder Scene, Creating Interesting Fiction Characters, Developing Better Writing Skills, Facts About Lying, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, How Dishonesty Can Escalate, How Lying Affects The Brain, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, Lying and Brain Activity, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Neuroscience, Neuroscience and Murder, New Blog, Plot Ideas and Where They Come From, Practice Makes Perfect, Prescription For Murder Blog, Studies on Lying, The Act of Lying, The Art of Writing, The Psychology of Murder, The Science of Murder, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WRITING vs RUNNING

Posted on October 19, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

This month I’m running two marathon races. When I mention that fact to people who don’t run, they usually ask, “Why?” I’m not completely sure of the answer! Maybe the simple truth is that it’s because I can and I love … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Running, About Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Being Thankful For Your Life, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Development Techniques, Connecting With Your Reader, Create a Better You, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Life Skills, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Running Skills, Developing Technologies, How to Create a Better Life, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Practice Makes Perfect, Prescription For Murder Blog, Preventing Human Errors, Published Novel by James J Murray, Skills to Create a Better Life, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, Training for a Running Race, Writing Skills, Writing Skills and Running Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It’s Called “The Practice of Pharmacy”

Posted on October 12, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I blog about dark and sinister subjects—the perfect drug as a murder weapon, ten ways to create a bloodless murder, and zombie invasions—to name a few. I appreciate your enthusiastic responses and certainly your readership. Today, however, I’d like to … Continue reading →

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Achieving Perfection, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Mastering Your Craft, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Life Goals, Patient Therapy Outcomes, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Practice Makes Perfect, Practicing Your Profession, Prescription For Murder Blog, Preventing Human Errors, Skills to Create a Better Life, The Pharmacy Profession, The Practice of Pharmacy, Writing Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are Antagonists Also Anti-Heroes?

Posted on August 17, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

The other day a person whom I admire posed an interesting question to me? What is the difference between an antagonist and an antihero? I have to admit that I paused a good while to consider my answer before spouting … Continue reading →

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, About James J. Murray, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, An Antagonist vs The Antihero, Antagonist Development, 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, Deciding What Types of Fictional Characters Fit Into Your Plot, Defining The Use of Antagonists vs Antiheroes, 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, Elements of Fictional Characters, Fictional Character Development, James J. Murray Blog, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Plot Development, Plot Ideas and Where They Come From, Prescription For Murder Blog, Protagonist Development, The Writings of James J. Murray, Tools of Fiction Writing, Types of Fictional Characters, Villains vs Antiheroes, Writing Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Book Hangover!

Posted on March 30, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

 This past weekend I read a great book and I have a book hangover! I’ve experienced such an event many times in the past, but I’ve never attempted to write about it. So . . . I googled the words … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Almost Dead, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Book Hangover, Character Driven Writing, Connecting With Your Reader, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Good Books Create Emotions, Growing As A Writer, James J. Murray Blog, New Book Release, Plot Development, Proper Use of the Written Word, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Writings of James J. Murray, Writing Skills, Your Favorite Book, Your Last Book Hangover? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mysteries vs Thrillers

Posted on March 23, 2016 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 A Mystery Novel, A Thriller Novel, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, Adrenaline Rush, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character Driven Writing, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Story Arcs, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Developing Writing Skills, Difference Between Mysteries and Thrillers, Growing As A Writer, James J. Murray Blog, Mysteries and Thrillers Compared, Mysteries Vs Thrillers, New Blog, Plotting Murder Scenes, Prescription For Murder Blog, Proper Use of the Written Word, Role of Suspense in Mysteries, Role of Suspense in Thrillers, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, The Writings of James J. Murray, Tools of Fiction Writing, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

PROLOGUES – To Use or Not To Use!

Posted on December 16, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Fiction writers often use prologues to set up their story—possibly with an actual murder scene or with a scene that gives valuable historical information to help the reader understand the villain or hero. But are these preambles to the real … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Correct Use of Prologues, Death of The Prologue?, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Story Arcs, Developing Story Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Developing Writing Skills, Growing As A Writer, How to Use Prologues, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Mastering Your Craft, Misuse of Prologues, New Blog, Obsession with Proper Usage of the English Language, Prescription For Murder Blog, Prologue Use and Misuse, Prologues, Prologues in Modern Fiction Writing, Proper Use of Prologues, Proper Use of the Written Word, Role of The Prologue, Story Development, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing, Tools of Fiction Writing, Use of Prologues, When Not to Use Prologues, Why Use Prologues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

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

Posted on December 9, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

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 used specifically to clarify or to emphasize a point. They are the comma, … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Perfection, All About Writing, AP Style of Ellipsis, Blog Writers, Blogging, Chicago Style of Ellipsis, Comma Use, Correct Use of Punctuation in Fiction Writing, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Difference Between Commas, Ellipses Use, Ellipsis Use, Em Dash Use, Em Dashes and Ellipses, Growing As A Writer, Halon Gas and Murder, 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, New Blog, Obsession with Proper Usage of the English Language, 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 Writing, Tools of Fiction Writing, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments