Tag Archives: new blog

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

Posted on April 30, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

In last week’s blog, I explained how to properly use the three types of dashes in writing. Today, I’d like to further the discussion on punctuation marks that are used specifically to clarify or to emphasize a point. They are … 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, 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, En Dashes and Em Dashes, Grammar and Punctuation, Growing As A Writer, How to Use Commas Properly, How To Use Ellipses Properly, How to Use Em Dashes Properly, Hyphens, Hyphens and Dashes, Hyphens and Dashes and Their Misuse, Mastering Your Craft, Obsession with Proper Usage of the English Language, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Proper use of Commas, Proper Use of the Written Word, Styles of Ellypsis, The Art of Writing, The Difference Between Hyphens, The Proper Use of Hyphens and Dashes, Tools of Fiction Writing, Use of Dashes, Use of Hyphens, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Hyphens and Dashes – The Dread of Misuse!

Posted on April 23, 2014 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, En Dashes and Em Dashes, Grammar and Punctuation, Hyphens, Hyphens and Dashes, Hyphens and Dashes and Their Misuse, 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, Tools of Fiction Writing, Use of Dashes, Use of Hyphens, Writing Skills, Writing Techniques | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

E-Liquids = The New Murder Weapon!

Posted on April 9, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

For all the wonders of the technological age of today, there are times when life-enhancing advances can turn sinister. One such example is the evolution of e-cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes were first patented in 1963. The mechanism simulates smoking a real … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Writing, All About Murder, All About Writing, Blogging, Concentrated Liquid Nicotine, Cryptococcus Infection Outbreak, Drug Abuse, Drug Poisoning, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs Used to Murder, E-Liquids, Electronic Cigarettes, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, Killing a Villain in a Novel, Murder by E-Liquid Overdose, Murder By Nicotine Overdose, Murder Weapons, Murder With Drugs, Nicotine and Murder, Nicotine Used For Murder, Party Drugs, Plotting Murder Scenes, Poisons Used to Murder, Prescription For Murder Blog, The Art of Writing, Tools of Murder, Ways To Kill, Writing Death Scenes, Writing Murder Scenes Using Concentrated Nicotine Liquid | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Scorpion Venom – A Lethal Opportunity!

Posted on April 2, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Scorpions are predatory arthropods—exoskeleton or shell-like creatures. They originated in England in the High Middle Ages (around 1200 AD). Although scorpion venom has a fearsome reputation, there are only about 25 varieties (out of the over 1,700 species) that have … Continue reading →

Posted in About Writing, Acute Poisons, All About Murder, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Bloodless Death Scenes, Deadly Scorpion Venom, Deathstalker Scorpion Venom, Deathstalker Scorprion, Designer Drug Deaths, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs Used For Murder, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, Israeli Yellow Scorpion, Israeli Yellow Scorpion Venom, Lethal Scorpion Venom, Murder Weapons, Murder With Drugs, New Drug Discoveries, New Drug Research, Plotting Murder Scenes, Poisonous Scorpion Venom, Poisons Used to Murder, Scorpion Stings, Scorpion Venom, Story Development, The Deadliest Scorprion, The Science of Murder, Tools for Murder, Tools of Murder, Types of Deadly Scorpions, Writing Death Scenes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 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

Hydrofluoric Acid – The Flesh Eater!

Posted on March 19, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Hydrofluoric acid is a colorless liquid that mixes readily in other fluids. It’s highly corrosive and is classified as an acute poison that immediately begins to degrade tissue on contact. If you’re a fan of the Breaking Bad TV series, … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Acids and Tissue Damage, Acids and Tissue Death, Acids Used to Murder People, Acids with Systemic Toxicity, Acute Poisons, All About Murder, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Breaking Bad Acids, Breaking Bad Poisons, Contact Poisons, Flesh Eating Acids, Hydrofluoric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid and Murder, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, Killing a Villain in a Novel, Murder Weapons, Murdering with Visine, Plotting Murder Scenes, Poisons Used to Murder, The Science of Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Medication Shortages Continue To Plague the US

Posted on March 12, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

At one time or another, we may have gone to a doctor to receive help with a medical condition. More often than not the medical issue has been resolved when the physician writes a prescription for some wonder drug. You … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, Blog Writers, Blogging, Cheap Generic Drugs, Chemotherapy Supply Shortage Issues, Drug Shortages in the US, FDA and Drug Supply Shortages, Generic Drug Safety, Generic Drugs, Generic Drugs in the US, IV Medication Supply Issues, Medication Safety Issues, Medication Shortages in the US, Pharmaceutical Shortages in the US, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Prescription Trends, Reasons for Medication Shortages in the US, Shortages in the US Drug Distribution Chain, The Pharmacy Profession | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Food Nutrition Labels – Major Changes Ahead

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

In the late 1960’s, the FDA instituted nutrition labeling on certain food products. Information regarding caloric and sodium content were listed on foods that were mainly for special dietary needs. The everyday citizen had to wait years before the caloric … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, Accurate Caloric Content Labeling For Foods, Accurate Caloric Content of Packaged Foods, Added Sugar Content on Food Labels, Blog Writers, Blogging, Fat Content on Labels of Foods, FDA Food Label Changes, Food Nutrient Label Changes, New FDA Food Label Proposals, Nutrient Label Changes on Foods and Beverages, Nutrition Label Changes, Trends in Nutrition Labeling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

When a Murder Is Not Really a Murder!

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

Yes, the title messes with my mind also. When someone dies at the hand of another, that’s labeled a murder. Sure, there are various degrees of murder—ranging from intentional to unintentional with legal terms such as 1st degree, 2nd degree, … Continue reading →

Posted in A Non-Murder Plot, About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Writing, Administering Baclofen to Mimic Death, Administering DMT To Mimic Death, All About Murder, All About Writing, Baclofen, Baclofen for Near Death Experience, Baclofen Overdose, Blog Writers, Blogging, Bloodless Death Scene Writing, Bloodless Death Scenes, Botanical Murder Weapons, Defining Murder, Dimethyltryptamine, DMT Overdose, Drugs For Murder Plots, Drugs That Mimic Death, Drugs Used For Murder, Drugs Used for Near Death Experiences (NDE), Killing a Villain in a Novel, Murder is Defined, Murder Weapons, Murder With Drugs, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Plot Development, Plotting Murder Scenes, Tools of Murder, Walking Dead in Writing, Writing Death Scenes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Am I Possessed or Just Becoming a Better Writer?

Posted on February 19, 2014 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

My guess is that the headline question has you thinking that I might be crazy instead. Well, that’s possible, but I’d like you to reserve judgment until you’ve read further. Something happened a few days ago that has me thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in A Non-Murder Plot, About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Writing, Achieving Perfection, All About Murder, All About Writing, Blog Writers, Blogging, Character development, Characteristics of Murder, Defining Murder, Developing a Writing Career, Developing Better Writing Skills, Developing Writing Skills, Drugs For Murder Plots, Growing As A Writer, Ideas for Murder Scenes, Instruments of Death, Interesting Murder Weapons, Mastering Your Craft, Murder Weapons, Murder With Drugs, Overcoming Writer's Block, Plot Development, Plotting Murder Scenes, Plotting Novellas, Plotting Short Stories, Protagonist Development, The Art of Writing, Ways To Kill, Writing Critique Groups, Writing Workshops | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments