Category Archives: Mastering Your Craft

Exploiting Computer Chip Flaws

Posted on February 7, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

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 →

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 AP Ellipses, Blogging, Chicago Ellipses, Comma Use in Modern Writing, Ellipsis Use in Modern Writing, Em Dash Use in Modern Writing. Types of Dashes and Their Use in Modern Writing, Em Dashes and Ellipses in Modern Writing, fiction writer, fiction writing, How to Use Em Dashes and Ellipses in Dialogue and Narrative, Inspirations to Use Proper English, James J. Murray - Fiction Writer, Misuse of Commas, Misuse of Em Dashes and Ellipses, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, new blog, pharmacist writer, Prescription For Murder Blog, Proper Communication Skills, Proper Editing Rules, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper Punctuation Marks in Modern Writing, Proper Rules in Writing English, Proper Usage of Ellipses and Em Dashes, Proper Use of Commas, Proper Use of the English Language, The Proper Use of the AP Ellipsis, The Proper Use of the Chicago Ellipsis, Types of Ellipses, Use of Ellipses in Modern Writing, Using Commas in Modern Fiction, Using Ellipses in Modern Fiction, Using Punctuation in Modern Writing, writer, writing career, writing pharmacist | 2 Comments

Hyphens and Dashes – The Dread of Misuse!

Posted on August 30, 2017 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, Achieving Writing 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, Em Dashes and Ellipses, En Dashes and Em Dashes, Grammar and Punctuation, How to Use Em Dashes Properly, Hyphens, Hyphens and Dashes, Hyphens and Dashes and Their Misuse, 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, 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 crime fiction writer, En Dash and Em Dash Differences, fiction writer, Hyphen Use, Hyphen Use in Modern Writing, Hyphens and Dashes in Writing, Hyphens versus Dashes, James J. Murray - Fiction Writer, Misuse of Em Dashes and Ellipses, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, murder mystery writer, new blog, pharmacist writer, Prescription For Murder Blog, Proper Communication Skills, Proper Editing Rules, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper Punctuation Marks in Modern Writing, Proper Rules in Writing English, Proper Use of the English Language, Use of Dashes in Writing, USe of the Em Dash, Use of the En Dash, Using Dashes in Modern Fiction, Using Punctuation in Modern Writing, writer, writing career, writing pharmacist | 2 Comments

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

Posted on June 7, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

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 #Mystery, #Novel, #Thriller, Becoming A Better Fiction Writer, crime fiction writer, drug-related murders, Drugs Used for Murder, fiction writer, How To Stay Motivated To Publish A Novel, James J. Murray - Fiction Writer, murder, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, murder mystery writer, new blog, pharmacist writer, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Emotional Downside of Publishing, The Emotional Letdown After Publishing a Novel, The Emotional Roller Coaster Ride of Publishing a Novel, The Emotions Involved in Publishing a Novel, The Novel ALMOST DEAD, The Novel IMPERFECT MURDER, The Novel LETHAL MEDICINE, The Psychology of Publishing a Novel, Thriller Novel Writer, What To Do After Publishing A Novel, Writer Motivations | 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 blogging about drugs, How to practice pharmacy, James J. Murray - Fiction Writer, Jokes about pharmacy, Mistakes in pharmacy, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, murder mystery writer, new blog, Pharmacist Mistakes, pharmacist to writer, pharmacist writer, practicing pharmacy, Prescription For Murder Blog, The practice of pharmacy, Why call it the practice of pharmacy, writing pharmacist | 2 Comments

Practicing Your Profession

Posted on April 6, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

For much of my life I was a practicing pharmacist. Each day I would draw on my professional experience and use every tidbit of education to make appropriate clinical decisions. Like so many other professionals, I was doing the work … Continue reading →

Posted in 000 Hour Rule, About James J. Murray, About Writing, Accuracy in Writing, Achieving Perfection, Achieving Writing Perfection, All About Writing, Almost Dead, Better Fiction Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Developing Writing Skills, James J. Murray Blog, Lethal Medicine-The Novel, Mastering Your Craft, Practice Makes Perfect, Practicing Your Profession, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Writing | Tagged 000 Hour Rule, 10000 Hours to Perfection, Becoming A Better Fiction Writer, Better Professional Skills, Better Writing Skills, fiction writer, Five-Star Review Writing, Getting Better At What You Do, James J. Murray, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, new blog, Practice the 10, Practice to Be Better At Your Job, Practice Your Profession, Prescription For Murder Blog, Why call it the practice of pharmacy, writing pharmacist | 3 Comments

Create An Action-Packed New Year!

Posted on January 6, 2016 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

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 yourself on track to meet those goals. First … Continue reading →

Posted in 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 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, Life Skills, Making Change Permanent, Mastering Your Craft, Meaningful Change in The New Year, Modern Approach to New Year's Resolutions, 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 Achieving Perfection, Achieving Your Goals, Becoming a Better Runner, Becoming a Better Writer, Better Writing Skills, Change, Change in the New Year, Changing For The Better, Establishing Good Changes in Your Life, Establishing Good Habits, How Long Does It Take To Make A Change A Habit, How to Become a Better Person, How to Become the Person You Want To Be, How to Change Yourself in the New Year, How to Keep New Year's Resolutions, How to Make Better New Year's Resolutions, James J. Murray, Macrocycles, Macrocyles To Change, Make Change A Habit, Mesocycles, Mesocycles To Change, Microcycles, Microcycles To Change, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, new blog, Prioritizing Your Goals, Progressive Training Cycles, RRCA Training Cycles, writing pharmacist | 3 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 Antagonist Development, Better Writing Skills, crime fiction writer, Examples of Misuse of Prologues, fiction writing, James J. Murray, Long Prologues, Misuse of Prologues, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, murder mystery writer, Negatives of Prologues, Never Use a Prologue, new blog, pharmacist writer, Prescription For Murder Blog, Prologue Use in Specific Genres, Prologues - A Literary Plague, Prologues as a Literary Device, Prologues to Set the Mood, Prologues Use in Modern Fiction, Prologues vs First Chapters, Prologues vs Main Story, Proper Use of Prologues, Purpose of a Prologue, Rules for Prologue Use, Short Prologues, Unnecessary Prologues, Using Prologues in Murder Mysteries, Using Prologues in Thrillers, What is a Prologue?, When to Use a Prologues | 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 AP Ellipses, author, blogging about crime, Chicago Ellipses, Comma Use in Modern Writing, crime fiction writer, Ellipsis Use in Modern Writing, Em Dash Use in Modern Writing. Types of Dashes and Their Use in Modern Writing, Em Dashes and Ellipses in Modern Writing, fiction writing, How to Use Em Dashes and Ellipses in Dialogue and Narrative, Inspirations to Use Proper English, James J. Murray, Misuse of Commas, Misuse of Em Dashes and Ellipses, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, murder mystery writer, new blog, Prescription For Murder Blog, Proper Communication Skills, Proper Editing Rules, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper Punctuation Marks in Modern Writing, Proper Rules in Writing English, Proper Usage of Ellipses and Em Dashes, Proper Use of Commas, Proper Use of the English Language, The Proper Use of the AP Ellipsis, The Proper Use of the Chicago Ellipsis, Types of Ellipses, Use of Ellipses in Modern Writing, Using Commas in Modern Fiction, Using Ellipses in Medern Fiction, Using Punctuation in Modern Writing, writing career | 3 Comments

Hyphens and Dashes – The Dread of Misuse!

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

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 Blogging, blogging about drug crime, En Dash and Em Dash Differences, fiction writer, fiction writing, Hyphen Use, Hyphen Use in Modern Writing, Hyphens and Dashes in Writing, Hyphens versus Dashes, James J. Murray, James J. Murray - Fiction Writer, Misuse of Em Dashes and Ellipses, Murder Mayhem and Medicine, new blog, Prescription For Murder Blog, Proper Communication Skills, Proper Editing Rules, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper Punctuation Marks in Modern Writing, Proper Rules in Writing English, Proper Use of the English Language, Use of Dashes in Writing, USe of the Em Dash, Use of the En Dash, Using Dashes in Modern Fiction, Using Punctuation in Modern Writing, writing career, writing pharmacist | 1 Comment

Category Archives: Mastering Your Craft

Exploiting Computer Chip Flaws

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

Hyphens and Dashes – The Dread of Misuse!

It’s Called “The Practice of Pharmacy”

Practicing Your Profession

Create An Action-Packed New Year!

PROLOGUES – To Use or Not To Use!

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

Hyphens and Dashes – The Dread of Misuse!

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