Tag Archives: writing career

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

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

Radioactive Bacteria On The Attack!

Posted on June 5, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

In previous blogs (here, here and here), I’ve written about the horrors of bacterial attacks. I’ve discussed the concept of drug resistant bacteria up to and including bacteria used in biological warfare. Today, however, I’d like to highlight an organism … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, Attack of Bacteria, Bacteria and Radiation, Bacteria Attacks Cancer, Curing Pancreatic Cancer, Friendly Bacteria, Killing Cancer With Bacteria, Listeria Attacks Cancer, Listeria Bacteria, Pancreatic Tumors, Pharmacy/Pharmaceuticals, Radioactive Bacteria, Radioactive Bacteria Attacks Cancer, Radioactive Listeria | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Author Interview and Excerpt: “The Clearing” by Thomas Rydder

Posted on March 6, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Today I’d like to introduce a fellow writer and friend, Thomas Rydder, who has just launched his debut novel: The Clearing. The following is some information about him and his novel. Check out his various sites in the “Stalk The … Continue reading →

Posted in About Author Thomas Rydder, The Clearing - A Novel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

I’m a Writer – No Other Label Needed!

Posted on February 27, 2013 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I started my professional career as a pharmacist: a graduate pharmacist first, then a registered one, and then a clinical one. Those labels defined not only who I was, but it described in a single word what I had achieved. … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, All About Writing, The Art of Writing, What writers are called!, Writing Labels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

My First Interview as a Writer

Posted on December 12, 2012 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

About five years ago, I had a wild idea that I could be a writer.  Actually, I had entertained the thought for decades, but other things always came first.  I guess you could say the usual happened—life got in the … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, About Writing, Drugs Used For Murder, Guest Blogging, Mastering Your Craft, The Art of Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Meningitis Murder

Posted on November 7, 2012 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Recently, a horrendous outbreak of fungal meningitis was reported in the news.  I watched in awe as the story evolved from a few isolated illnesses to 419 cases in 19 states that resulted in 30 deaths, at last count. I write … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Medications/Pharmacy, Compounding Phamracy, Meningitis Outbreak | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hyphens and Dashes

Posted on September 26, 2012 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 their proper … Continue reading →

Posted in About James J. Murray, About Writing, Hyphens, Hyphens and Dashes, Proper Punctuation in Writing, Punctuation Marks, Use of Dashes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Dialogue: The Good and The Bad!

Posted on September 12, 2012 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Last week’s blog was all about character development and using my 3P model to consider physical, psychological and philosophical qualities to flesh out characters.  Getting to know a character deep down is necessary before you can turn that character loose in … Continue reading →

Posted in All About Writing, Dialogue Techniques, Good Dialogue Development, The Art of Writing, Writing Dialogue | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments