Tag Archives: writers

In Praise of Short Stories: Why Should a Prospective Novelist Start by Writing Short Stories? (by John F. Dobbyn)

Posted on July 3, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Last week author Twist Phelan talked about some of the different challenges involved in writing short stories and novels. This week, author John F. Dobbyn argues that even writers interested primarily in becoming novelists should begin by writing short stories. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Characters, Editing, Fiction, Guest, Magazine, Novels, Publishing, Writers | Tagged editing, literature, publishing, short stories, short story, writers, writing, writing_technique | 1 Comment

“Writing Novels Versus Stories: It’s Not About the Word Count (well, just a little)” (by Twist Phelan)

Posted on June 26, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Twist Phelan is a former plaintiff’s attorney whose novels, but not her short stories, often make use of her legal background. Perhaps that’s because, as you’ll see in this post, her approach to short stories is very different from her … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Books, Editing, Fiction, Guest, Novels, Setting, Writers | Tagged elleryqueenmm, fiction, literature, mystery, novel, short stories, short story, writers, writing_technique | 1 Comment

Free Advice from James Lincoln Warren

Posted on June 12, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

On this site posts seldom involve explicit advice to writers, but James Lincoln Warren wrote an engaging piece for Criminal Brief, a blog site he founded, several years ago that we thought readers as well as writers would enjoy. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Editing, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Setting, Writers | Tagged authors, editing, eqmm, fiction, mystery, publishing, short story, writers, writing, writing_technique | 6 Comments

“The Wonderful, Terrible, Mysterious West” (by Susan Salzer)

Posted on May 29, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

When Susan Salzer’s March/April 2012 story “The Saint of Pox Island” was named a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award this spring, we did a search of EQMM’s 72-year-long awards list (which you can find here, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Awards, Characters, Conventions, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Historicals, Noir, Western | Tagged genre, literature, magazines, mystery, noir, setting, western, wild west, writers | 2 Comments

“You Do WHAT With Your Short Stories?” (by Brendan DuBois)

Posted on April 30, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

EQMM has published many prolific short-story writers over the years, most notably Edward D. Hoch, who, in the course of his lifetime, sold more than 900 short stories. A tenth of that number would be a lot by just about … Continue reading →

Posted in Ellery Queen, Fiction, Guest, Writers | Tagged elleryqueenmm, eqmm, fiction, literature, shortstories, short_form, writers | 3 Comments

“A Post to Burn on the IRS Fire to Warm Mystery Writers and Those Who Plan to Be” (by Jim Weikart)

Posted on April 10, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

With the U.S. tax filing deadline just days away, what could be more opportune than some advice to writers from former tax accountant turned full-time mystery writer Jim Weikart? In the early 1990s, it was my privilege to acquire and … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Guest, Writers | Tagged accountant, advice, business, eqmm, fiction, financial, taxes, writers, writing | 2 Comments

“Truth or Point of View?” (by V.S. Kemanis)

Posted on March 20, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

I read a lot of unsolicited manuscripts and it sometimes seems to me as if everyone who ever earned a law degree at some point tries to write a mystery. The reasons are obvious: The law is meant to serve … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Courtroom Mysteries, Fiction, Guest, Setting | Tagged courtroom mystery, judges, jury, lawyers, literature, mystery, setting, themes, trial, writers | 3 Comments

“Tips and Other Compensations” (by Terence Faherty)

Posted on March 13, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Terence Faherty’s fiction has earned a number of honors, including multiple Shamus Awards from the Private Eye Writers of America. He writes both contemporary and historical mysteries for EQMM, mostly in two series, those featuring Owen Keane and Scott Elliott. … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Fiction, Guest, Writers | Tagged characters, fiction, mystery genre, mystery writing, writers, writing, writing_technique | 8 Comments

“Murder, He Giggled” (by Jack Fredrickson)

Posted on February 27, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Jack Fredrickson, whose fiction-writing career began in EQMM’s Department of First Stories in 2002, has gone on to write a series of award-nominated novels featuring Chicago P.I. Dek Elstrom. He has a distinctive style, creating noir ambiance with wry prose. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Characters, Editing, Fiction, Guest, Noir, Setting, Writers | Tagged humor, men of mystery, mystery, noir, novel, publishing, short stories, short story, tone, writers, writing_technique | Leave a comment

“The Bridal Gown Theory of Creativity” (by Doug Allyn)

Posted on February 20, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Several writers have told EQMM that they prefer writing short stories to novels because ideas come to them easily. The late Edward D. Hoch, for example, became impatient with the few novels he wrote because other story ideas had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Fiction, Guest, Setting, Writers | Tagged influences, literature, novel, short story, story ideas, writers, writing, writing_technique | 5 Comments