Tag Archives: character

Getting a Grip on Gripping Characters: YA Mystery Writing

Posted on March 16, 2014 by

You know that expression, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears?” I’ve been told it’s from Zen buddhism, but it’s also very much current. I’ve found another side to it as a writer: When I’m ready to learn something, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beth Kanell, SinCNE, Writing, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Linda Barnes Interview

Posted on May 24, 2013 by

Linda Barnes, one of New England’s most celebrated mystery writers, author of four Michael Spraggue novels and twelve Carlotta Carlyle novels, has kindly agreed to talk to us about her newest novel, The Perfect Ghost. Welcome, Linda. Nancy: After your … Continue reading →

Posted in Book promotion, Carlotta Carlyle, Craft, Em Moore, Interview, Linda Barnes, SinCNE, Social Media, Uncategorized, Writers, Writing, Writing resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Steering Action Through Scene and Sequel

Posted on January 26, 2013 by

Lately I’ve been struggling to figure out how to improve the pacing of my scenes.  Enter the SinCNE-sponsored online class taught by Mary Buckham. The class covers much more than scene pacing, but scene pacing has stymied me for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Event Recap, Nancy Gardner, Of Interest, SinCNE, Uncategorized, Writers, Writing, Writing resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bending Fiction, Serving Reality

Posted on December 1, 2012 by

Stephen King, one of my favorite writers, once said about writing, “You can never bend reality to serve the fiction. You have to bend the fiction to serve reality.” He also said, “You may be entranced with what you’re learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Nancy Gardner, SinCNE, Uncategorized, Writers, Writing, Writing resources | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Blogging from the Crime Bake: “Not Your Mother’s Miss Marple: Making Series Compelling and Believable”

Posted on November 10, 2012 by

Point number one about Crime Bake: When you’ve been “visiting” with other authors all weekend, you quote them by name, as Roberta Isleib — today under her nom de plume Lucy Burdette — just did: “I love writing a series,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences, Craft, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Blog Interview: Lynne Heitman, Book Whisperer

Posted on August 12, 2012 by

Nancy: Welcome, Lynne. Thanks for visiting the SinCNE blog. Someone I met once called you, “The Book Whisperer.” Certainly you’ve acted like a book whisperer for me—helping me break out of a mid-novel blockage by suggesting I try working backwards … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Uncategorized, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments