As a former IT professional, Alan Merrick decided a life networking computers just wasn't rocking his world. He kicked around for a couple of years doing some consulting work - looking for inspiration, but finding little. Writing was a long-time passion, so he decided it was time to take the wheel and make a change.

Al's stories are equal parts murder and mystery, with a nice pinch of humor to round them out. His books are fairly dialogue driven and he tries to keep true to the language his characters would use (i.e. if it was a movie, it would be probably be rated R). Alan currently writes crime mysteries revolving around LAPD Police Detective Terry Nines and his partner Doug Maxwell. There's also a future plan for an espionage series that ...more

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Alan Merrick I don't buy into writer's block. If I'm stumped on the plot or a scene, I set it aside for a day or two and work on another scene. If I still have tro…moreI don't buy into writer's block. If I'm stumped on the plot or a scene, I set it aside for a day or two and work on another scene. If I still have trouble, then I start writing possibles. They can be wild and completely ridiculous as long as I'm writing. After a time, something usually pops up that I can use. This often leads to an inspiration that solves the issue.

So far it's always worked. If at some point I'm feeling completely stuck, I think I'll set the entire book aside and work on another project - start an outline for the next one, whatever. I know that eventually the answer will make itself known and that will happen a lot quicker if I'm writing and not worrying so much about it. (less)

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Alan Merrick’s books

Average rating: 5.0 · 1 rating · 1 review · 2 distinct works

	The Field it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Country Hits 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Country Hits: A Terry Nines Mystery (Terry Nines Mysteries) (Volume 1) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Field 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars