Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 137

Ten Characters in Search of an Exit by James W. Ziskin

We're in the strangest time many of us have ever known right now. How do you decide how much of the outside world to include in your work?

From Jim
In other words, have I included anything about the pandemic or quarantining in my writing? Not in the two months since the shutdown began, however...

I sure did write a lot about quarantine in my latest Ellie Stone book, TURN TO STONE. Its a coincidence that TURN TO STONE was released on January 21, 2020, one day after the first U.S. Covid-19 case...

Inside out

"We're in the strangest time many of us have ever known right now. How do you decide how much of the outside world to include in your work?
by Dietrich
Strange times indeed, and I could go on about that, but the question is how much of the outside world do I include in my work?
When I stumble on some real-life event that I find interesting and story-worthy, I like to let my imagination run with it and come up with different twists and turns. And sometimes I find a few other real events that fit...

To Pretend or Not to Pretend

We were asked this week, in the light of the Covid 19 outbreak, how we decide how much of the outside world to include in our work. In other words, do we mention the virus and its impact, or pretend it isnt happening.
What a question!
I sent a domestic suspense novel off to my agent at the end of 2019before the virus was part of our lives.. She got back to me mid-January and said she loved the book, and that she  had a few notes for me to use for revisions. (By the way we discussed this...

The Strange New World We Live In

We're in the strangest time many of us have ever known right now. How do you decide how much of the outside world to include in your work?
Brenda Chapman here.

The times they certainly are achanging. As I write this post, its Mothers Day Sunday and were trying to figure out how to visit with our daughters and their partners without getting closer than six feet. My husband Ted and I have spent the last two months social isolating with Zoom check-ins now the norm with friends, and younger people...

Butcher, Baker, Troublemaker

Most of us - most writers everywhere - do something else first, or do something else alongside. What bits of your other career(s) have you found useful in the business of writing and what bits have you had to ditch?

by Paul D. Marks

Generally, I dont like to talk about most of my checkered past. Nothing illegal or anything like that, just checkered. Maybe Chancellor of the Exchequer (or should that be Chancellor of the Excheckered?). But if its the ex chequer wouldnt that make one the Ex...

I'm out and I'm never going back! by Catriona

Most of us - most writers everywhere - do something else first, or do something else alongside. What bits of your other career(s) have you found useful in the business of writing and what bits have you had to ditch?
My first professional ambition, from about 1969-74, was to be a princess and/or fairy and/or angel. I thought they were pretty much the same thing. That willingness to blend fictional and reality still comes in handy every day.
It's an HR free-for-all at the top of the average...

Third time's the charm...? by Cathy Ace

Most of us - most writers everywhere - do something else first, or do something else alongside. What bits of your other career(s) have you found useful in the business of writing and what bits have you had to ditch?

Some sort of corporate "do" 1992...
I think I must be looking shocked because of the suit!Im on my third career. Yes, I know, that means Im either greedy, or I just cant make up my mind! Do I get bored easily? Yes. Do I constantly feel the need to take on a new challenge? Yes.

Career...

How Much Is True?

Most of us - most writers everywhere - do something else first, or do something else alongside. What bits of your other career(s) have you found useful in the business of writing and what bits have you had to ditch?

-From Frank

I used to be a cop. It's all over my bio, if you're more interested than what's conveyed in that single sentence. But there's a lot that comes in just those six words, right? A lot of pre-conceived ideas, emotions, philosophies...and from all across the social and...

You Just Never Know

Q: Most of us - most writers everywhere - do something else first, or do something else alongside. What bits of your other career(s) have you found useful in the business of writing and what bits have you had to ditch?
- from Susan
A: The only piece of my former lives (plural) that I dont need, alas, is evening wear long dresses with sparkly wraps and glittery earrings. No more black tie donor events, campaign kick-offs, or other ceremonial events in my life. I miss it. I recently gave my...

Oh for a place to call my own...

Show us where you work! Please share a photo of your work/writing space, and tell us why it looks the way it does!
From Abir

I have to be honest, when I saw this weeks topic, I was actually filled with a slight amount of panic. When you think of an author, you picture them working away feverishly in a rustic garret or some beautiful, book-lined study. Its a wonderful image, reinforced these days by pictures posted on Pinterest or Zoom videos straight from the authors attic. For me, the perfect...