She had a highly-regarded editor pluck her out of the online equivalent of the slush pile and signed her two a two-book deal with St. Martin’s.  She’s also eighty-something years young.  But Eugenia Lovett West does not rest on her laurels or her age when it comes to writing tightly-plotted mysteries.  Her latest novel, OVERKILL, [...]

If you missed part one of author Skyler White’s craft essay on myth and fact, click here, then come back. Skyler’s debut novel, and Falling, Fly, has been dubbed a “trippy urban fantasy” by Publisher’s Weekly. She was about to tell us how “developing a character by creating their reality in tandem with their mythology” [...]

Today and tomorrow, author Skyler White will wield the WU mic to talk to us about an interesting topic — using myth and fact to create well-rounded fiction. We’re thrilled she’s with us. Take it away, Skyler.
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The opportunity to write a piece about craft at Writer Unboxed has given me a welcome respite from talking [...]

Imagine entering a writing contest sponsored by a major publishing house, but not winning. Then imagine getting an e-mail from a very A-list editor wanting to offer you a two-book deal because your writing captivated her. An aspiring novelist’s fairy tale ending, right?
Dreams did come true for mystery novelist Eugenia Lovett West because [...]

One of the most often asked and most annoying questions for writers is ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ My answer depends on the circumstances. If the questioner is, say, a talented twelve-year-old, I explain how everyday experiences can provide fodder for the writer’s imagination, and how the more widely a person reads, [...]

Who spreads stories and why? Sociologists at the University of Pennsylvania have been studying data provided by The New York Times showing which of the paper’s articles are the most often e-mailed.
Their conclusions have some relevance for fiction writers because they reveal what it is about stories that probably generate word of [...]

Tonight is the night! Carleen Brice’s lauded debut novel, Orange Mint and Honey, was purchased by Lifetime Movie Network and has been transformed into a made-for-TV movie for the network called Sins of the Mother. [Read our interview with Carleen here.] Check out the trailer here, and be sure to tune in to the Lifetime [...]

Before I landed an agent and publishing deal, I read something on a well-regarded writerly website about similes. I think the advice went something like this: You shouldn’t have more than two similes in your entire story because they can be distracting. I did a quick check of The Last Will of Moira Leahy and [...]

The signs were not good.
Oh, I had a plan. In December, I’d outlined the whole book from beginning to end. Made sure I’d figured out the plot holes in advance. Had a killer resolution in mind. The plan was solid.
I knew I was getting into trouble around mid-January when my page [...]

Is there such a thing as a perfect crime?
Eight months ago, forensic investigator Theresa MacLean lost her fiancé in a bank robbery gone wrong, and she’s had trouble concentrating on her work ever since. But now a particularly difficult case may just be what she needs to regain her focus by demanding all her skill, [...]

Today’s guest blogger is author and academic writing teacher Elisa Lorello, who has a new novel out called Ordinary World. Elisa is participating in a blog tour through WOW, Women on Writing, and one of the topics she offered to write about was working collaboratively on a novel. Yes! I thought. Tell us more! Here’s [...]

Lisa Black knows a thing or two about death.
She’s worked in a coroner’s office as a forensic scientist, has testified in dozens of homicide trials, and has examined her share of fingerprints. It’s no wonder that, as an author, she gravitates toward suspense novels and dark subjects. Though she’s written books under another name, [...]