Category Archives: Life Skills

A Hopeful Author – Even During a Pandemic!

Posted on November 18, 2020 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

November in the United States is Thanksgiving time. This year, the US Thanksgiving holiday is Thursday November 26th. It may seem to be an unusual time to be thankful with so many across the world being economically fragile, food insecure and with … Continue reading →

Posted in A Holiday Wish, a New Horror/Thriller Novel, A New Novel By James J. Murray, A New Psychological Thriller Release, About James J. Murray, All About Writing, Being Hopeful During a Pandemic, Being Thankful, Being Thankful During a Pandemic, Being Thankful Every Day, Being Thankful For Your Life, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing Better Life Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Getting Through a Pandemic, Happy Thanksgiving Blog, Holiday Cheer, Hope for 2021, How To Be A Happier Person, How to Create a Better Life, How to Create a More Enjoyable Life, How to Create a More Productive Life, How to Create a More Satisfying Life, James J. Murray Blog, James J. Murray's THE SERIAL CHEMIST, Life Skills, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, Prescription For Murder Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chasing Old Man Winter in the New Year!

Posted on January 9, 2019 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

January, this first month of the new year, always starts off with great hope and promise. Often, however, those feelings of optimism and expectation sour as the weather turns colder and the sun remains behind dark clouds for weeks on … Continue reading →

Posted in A New Year's Greeting, A New Year's Wish, A World of Possibility, About James J. Murray, Achieving Perfection, Being Thankful, Being Thankful Every Day, Being Thankful For Your Life, Blog Writers, Blogging, Categories of Harmful Substances for Humans, Change in the New Year, Changing Your Life in The New Year, Creating Change in the New Year, Creating New Habits in The New Year, Developing Better Life Skills, Failed New Year’s Resolutions, Forging a Better Life, How To Be A Happier Person, How To Become More Optimistic, How To Change Bad Habits, How to Create a Better Life, How to Create a More Enjoyable Life, How to Create a More Productive Life, How to Create a More Satisfying Life, How To Have A Better Winter, How to Implement New Year's Resolutions, Ideas for Creating Permanent Change, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, Life-Altering Goals, Making Change Permanent, Meaningful Change in The New Year, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Life Goals, New Year's Resolutions, Prescription For Murder Blog, SAD, Seasonal Affected Disorder, Skills to Create a Better Life, The Writings of James J. Murray, Winter Blues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chasing Away Old Man Winter

Posted on January 24, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

January, this first month of the new year, always starts off with great hope and promise. Often, however, those feelings of optimism and expectation sour as the weather turns colder and the sun remains behind dark clouds for weeks on … Continue reading →

Posted in A World of Possibility, About James J. Murray, Achieving Perfection, Being Thankful Every Day, Being Thankful For Your Life, Blog Writers, Blogging, Change in the New Year, Changing Your Life in The New Year, Creating Change in the New Year, Creating New Habits in The New Year, Developing Better Life Skills, Failed New Year’s Resolutions, Forging a Better Life, How To Be A Happier Person, How To Become More Optimistic, How To Change Bad Habits, How to Create a Better Life, How to Create a More Enjoyable Life, How to Create a More Productive Life, How to Create a More Satisfying Life, How To Have A Better Winter, How to Implement New Year's Resolutions, Ideas for Creating Permanent Change, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, Life-Altering Goals, Making Change Permanent, Meaningful Change in The New Year, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Life Goals, New Year's Resolutions, Prescription For Murder Blog, SAD, Seasonal Affected Disorder, Skills to Create a Better Life, The Writings of James J. Murray, Winter Blues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How to Action-Pack the New Year!

Posted on January 3, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018! Now, before you roll your eyes at yet another lesson about New Year’s resolutions, here are some practical suggestions to help you make realistic goals and keep yourself on track to meet those goals. Take a … Continue reading →

Posted in A Holiday Wish, A New Year's Greeting, A New Year's Wish, About James J. Murray, Achieving Perfection, Blog Writers, Blogging, Change in the New Year, Changing Your Life in The New Year, Create a Better You, Creating Change in the New Year, Creating New Habits in The New Year, Developing Better Life Skills, Forging a Better Life, Happy New Year, How To Change Bad Habits, How to Create a Better Life, How to Create a More Enjoyable Life, How to Create a More Productive Life, How to Create a More Satisfying Life, How to Implement New Year's Resolutions, How to Make New Year's Resolutions, Ideas for Creating Permanent Change, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, Life-Altering Goals, Making Change Permanent, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Life Goals, New Year's Resolutions, Prescription For Murder Blog, Skills to Create a Better Life, The Writings of James J. Murray | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Thankful Writer!

Posted on November 22, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Here in the United States it’s Thanksgiving time—Thursday, November 23rd 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 Running, About Writing, Being Thankful Every Day, Being Thankful For Your Life, Blog Trends, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing Writing Skills, Growing As A Writer, Happy Thanksgiving Blog, Holiday Cheer, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, Life-Altering Goals, 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Changing Ordinary People into Heroes!

Posted on June 21, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

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

Create An Action-Packed New Year!

Posted on January 4, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

First off -> HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017! Now, before you roll your eyes at yet another lesson about New Year’s resolutions, here are some practical suggestions to help you 1) make realistic goals, 2) plan them logically, and 3) keep … Continue reading →

Posted in A Holiday Wish, A New Year's Greeting, A New Year's Wish, About James J. Murray, About Running, About Writing, Achieving Perfection, Blog Writers, Blogging, Change in the New Year, Changing Your Life in The New Year, Create a Better You, Creating Change in the New Year, Creating New Habits in The New Year, Developing Better Life Skills, Forging a Better Life, Growing As A Writer, Happy New Year, How To Change Bad Habits, How to Create a Better Life, How to Create a More Enjoyable Life, How to Create a More Productive Life, How to Create a More Satisfying Life, How to Implement New Year's Resolutions, How to Make New Year's Resolutions, Ideas for Creating Permanent Change, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, Life-Altering Goals, Making Change Permanent, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, New Blog, New Life Goals, New Year's Resolutions, Prescription For Murder Blog, Skills to Create a Better Life, The Writings of James J. Murray | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why A Writer Should Be Thankful!

Posted on November 23, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Here in the United States it’s Thanksgiving time—Thursday, November 24th 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, 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, Fiction Writing - A Believable Lie, Growing As A Writer, Happy Thanksgiving Blog, Holiday Cheer, James J. Murray Blog, Learning the Art of Writing, Life Skills, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Shortcuts to Fitness

Posted on May 11, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

There’s been some interesting “talk” in the news recently about The One-Minute Workout. That’s right! One minute a day => seven minutes a week, and that’s supposed to make you healthier and give you the energy of a kid again. … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, Blog Writers, Blogging, Exercise Ideas for the Older Adult, Fountain of Youth, HITT Exercise Program, How to Create a Better Life, James J. Murray Blog, Life Skills, McMaster University Study in Kinesiology, New Blog, New Life Goals, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Next Big Thing, The One Minute Workout | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments