Category Archives: James J. Murray

Does ALMOST DEAD Still Mean “Dead”?

Posted on December 19, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

When someone dies, they’re dead—right? Well . . . maybe not. And when someone dies at the hand of another, that’s labeled a murder—correct? Well . . . maybe! Sure, there are various degrees of murder—ranging from intentional to unintentional … Continue reading →

Posted in A Christmas Gift Idea, A Murder Mystery Novel, A Mystery Novel, A New Novel By James J. Murray, About James Osborne, About Murder, Almost Dead, Almost Dead-The Novel, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scenes, Designing Murder Plots, Drug Misadventures, Fiction Based on Facts, Fiction Based on Real Life, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's ALMOST DEAD, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Mystery Novel, New Blog, New Murder Mystery Novel, Prescription For Murder Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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

Posted on September 13, 2017 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, 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

SAMARIUM – The Good and The Bad

Posted on July 27, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

In the past I’ve blogged about lethal radioactive chemicals (here and here) as possible murder weapons to use in your murder mysteries and thrillers. There is another rather dramatic radioactive agent—a beneficial medication at that—which could take center stage in … Continue reading →

Posted in A How To Blog on Murder Plot Ideas, A How To Blog on Murder Weapons, About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Murder, All About Murder, Blog Writers, Blogging, Chemical Poisons, Chemicals Used For Murder, Designer Drug Deaths, Designer Poisons Used For Murder, Designing Murder Plots, Developing Storyline Ideas, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Drug Poisoning, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs Used For Murder, Drugs Used to Murder, How to Choose a Murder Weapon for a Plot Idea, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, Killing Off Characters in Writing, Killing Off Characters in Your Novel, Lethal Agents and Murder, Lethal Chemical Poisons, Lethal Chemicals in Murder Mysteries, Lethal Radioactive Agents, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Weapons Discussed, Murder With Drugs, New Blog, New Methods of Murder, New Methods To Kill Characters in Your Novel, Overdose of Samarium, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Prescription For Murder Blog, Radioactive Drugs Used for Murder, Radioactive Pharmaceuticals and Murder, Radioactive Weapons of Murder, Samarium, Samarium and Murder, Tools of Murder, Unique Murder Plots, Unique Murder Weapons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

ALMOST DEAD – A Gift To My Readers

Posted on January 27, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

No, No, No . . . I don’t want my faithful readers almost dead. I want you very much alive and reading my novels! What I mean is that my new novel Almost Dead debuts today and my special gift … Continue reading →

Posted in A Thriller Novel, About James J. Murray, Almost Dead, Blog Writers, Blogging, Drug Misadventures, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs Used For Murder, Free Book Downloads, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Book Is Published, New Book Release, New Free E-Book, New Murder Mystery Novel, New Novel Published, New Novel Release, New Publication, New Thriller To Download, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Art of Storytelling, The Science of Murder, Walking Dead in Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wishing You A Joyous Winter Holiday!

Posted on December 23, 2015 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Happy Holidays To All My Readers & May You and Yours Be Filled With Joy and Peace During This Holiday Season  

Posted in A Christmas Greeting, A Holiday Wish, A World of Joy, About James J. Murray, Happy Holidays, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, New Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Mad About Mushrooms

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

The general term “mushrooms” includes a wide variety of fungal plants. They typically have a domed cap on a stalk and many have gills on the underside of the cap. Among the various mushroom species, many are considered nutritious and … 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, All About Murder, Amanita Muscaria Mushrooms, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Botanical Murder Weapons, Botanicals That Kill, Deadly Mushrooms, Deadly Plant Poisons, Designing Murder Plots, Dramatic Murder Weapons, Drug Poisoning, Ideas for Murder Scenes, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, Killing With Poisonous Plants, Lethal Mushrooms, Methods of Murder, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, Murder Weapons Discussed, Murder With Poisonous Plants, Muscimol, New Blog, New Methods of Murder, Plant Poisons, Plants That Kill, Plants Used For Murder, Plotting Interesting Murder Scenes, Poisonous Mushrooms, Poisonous Plants, Poisonous Toadstools, Poisons and Murder, Poisons Used to Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, Tools of Murder, Unique Murder Weapons, Ways to Murder, Writing Dramatic Murder Scenes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why A Writer Should Be Thankful!

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

Here in the United States it’s Thanksgiving time—Thursday, November 26th to be exact—and it’s a day of fantastic food feasts, with the bonus of a long holiday weekend ahead. More importantly, it’s a time to reflect on what makes our … Continue reading →

Posted in A Holiday Wish, A Writer's Thanksgiving Blog, About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Writing, Being Thankful Every Day, Being Thankful For Your Life, Blog Trends, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing Writing Skills, Fiction Based on Facts, Fiction Based on Real Life, Growing As A Writer, Happy Thanksgiving Blog, Holiday Cheer, James J. Murray, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Prescription For Murder Blog, Special Perks of Being A Writer, Thankful For Being A Writer, Why A Writer Should Be Thankful!, Writing As A Special and Rewarding Career | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hyphens and Dashes – The Dread of Misuse!

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

Hyphens and dashes are two distinctly different punctuation marks and a proper understanding of each will avoid embarrassing mistakes in your writing. Will anyone get MURDERED as a result of using the wrong one in the wrong place? No, but … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Editing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Perfection, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Dreaded Misuse of Hyphens and Dashes, Em Dash Use, En Dashes and Em Dashes, Grammar and Punctuation, Hyphens, Hyphens and Dashes, Hyphens and Dashes and Their Misuse, 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, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper Use of the Written Word, Punctuation Marks, Punctuation Rules, The Art of Writing, The Proper Use of Hyphens and Dashes, The Writings of James J. Murray, Tools of Fiction Writing, Use of Dashes, Use of Hyphens, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment