The Trials Of A Crime Writer: Planning The Perfect Crime

THE TRIALS OF A CRIME WRITER: PLANNING THE PERFECT CRIME

When writing crime, one of the first things you'll be thinking about is what that crime is. Now depending on how much you plot and plan, you might already know the ins and outs of your story, as in who does what when, and why they do it, and whether or not they're gong to get caught and how. I don't generally plan all that much when it comes to my crime and mystery books, but I do, generally, have some idea who's done the crime and why.

But over the years of being a crime writer, and as an avid reader of the genre, I do sometimes wonder just how many times a writer has created what might be the perfect crime, the one that you don't get caught doing. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not about to suggest that we all put our heads together and go on a killing spree! I'm simply thinking outside the box here and wondering just how much thought does go into the plotting and planning of these fictional crimes.

Personally, like I said, I don't plot it out much, but I have had to revise a book where plotting might have made matters easier. I don't do it beforehand because that's just not the way my writing or at least, my drafting brain works. I find that if I put too much thought into it, I end up losing the urge to write the story and no one wants that. If that works for you, then great, I can only come at this from my revision stages because that's when I, generally, will work on a better and more detailed outline to allow me to go through the revisions easier.

So what goes into the perfect crime? I thought I'd give you some of my writing tips, and give you a glimpse into the thought process behind it.

#1 THE MOTIVE MATTERS
As with most things crime related, there has to be an actual motive. When it comes to fiction, it's rare that someone will hurt someone else without a reason for it. To be honest the same could be said for real life, but I don't have any experience with that so I couldn't tell you how true that is. If you want your killer to be believable then you need to make sure they have a pretty good motive. If it's too weak, readers will question whether or not they would be driven to murder, and if it's too convoluted, it might just seem like there was a better way to do things.

#2 THE VICTIM MATTERS
I don't mean that your victim has to be a perfect person, everyone has flaws, and sometimes it can be fun to play around with a victim that no one likes, and therefore searching for the real killer can be really really difficult. But there has to be a reason that the killer chose this person to kill. If they're a victim, their loss must be something that can be felt throughout the story. I know some crime novels to a flip between then and now, and that can be a great tool to play with if you're wanting to do that, but to make readers want to read more, you need to make sure you've chosen the right victim.

#3 THE METHOD MATTERS
Of course, some crimes are going to be harder to trace. If it looks like it can be written off as natural causes, then you're home free, but since that's harder and harder to do, it might just be that you choose a method that allows people to really wonder how they died. Poison, depending on the type, can be something that's hard to pick up, especially if it's something that disperses quickly, or even is naturally occurring in the body. However you choose to end the victim's life, you need to be clever in your methodology.

So there we go, those are my three big things when it comes to planning the perfect crime. I think that a lot of the time, people forget one or the other, and while the point of the majority of crime novels is to solve it, you can be clever in how you go about doing so. Any way you look at it, it makes for interesting reading and exciting writing!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments below!

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Review of Hidden Angel by Tamar Sloan & VP Allasander

 

Angels and demons have battled for millennia. Their inevitable war has begun.

When Gabby arrives at Mercy Academy, she’s never been more excited. This is her chance at normality. But within minutes, she runs into cranky-pants Colt. Their resulting argument gets her on the Dean’s radar, but she can’t explain her unease about the mysterious guy.

Then, unusual things start to happen. Memory lapses. Mysterious murders. Beings with red eyes skulking in the shadows. And it turns out Colt is one of them. A demon.

When she’s attacked, Gabby’s forced to face the truth. She’s an angel. One who’s far more powerful than she could have imagined. And the academy is the battleground for the festering hostility between angels and demons, one that blurs the line between good and evil.

Gabby’s going to have to decide. Whose side is she on? How can she save others as they become collateral damage in this supernatural war? And if she’s an angel, how can she have feelings for Colt, her sworn enemy?

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up having read other books by Sloan and wanting to see what she and Allasander had created, and I was blown away. The story had me hooked from the first page, and I ended up reading it in one sitting. Gabby and Colt were relatable and engaging characters that felt so real and human. I adored getting to see how things were moving, the twists and turns of the plot and the way the story all came together at the end. I very much enjoyed it and will be picking up others in this series as soon as possible. Highly recommended!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Year Off Editing: What Have I Learned? [CC]

Last year I took the whole year off editing, and wanted to reflect back on what I've learned in that time! #Authortube

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#TeaserTuesday

Tara will do whatever she needs to to find Kaolin...

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 [ID: A dark brown background at the top with the title DYING THOUGHTS - FOURTH WEEK at the top and Out now in ebook and paperback just above the title. The except reads:

I looked out of the windows that surrounded my private study room, and when I was sure that no one would notice if I lay down on the floor, I did so. I reached into my jacket pocket and grasped Kaolin’s mobile, closed my eyes and laid back…nothing happened. Wherever she was, she wasn’t dead.

At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, in the top right corner is the Readers' Favorite Review seal, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]

 

The Trials Of An Indie Author: Writing Every Day Revisited

THE TRIALS OF AN INDIE AUTHOR: WRITING EVERY DAY REVISITED

One of the first pieces I did on the blog was about writing every day (found here) and I know that I've touched on it in my trial of an indie author pieces as well (found here) and I thought that it would be a good idea to go back and talk about it again.

When I was first starting out as an indie author, it was the one piece of advice that I heard a whole ton: oh you must write every day, it's the only way to be valid as a writer. For someone who has multiple physical and mental health conditions, it wasn't something I found easy, or something that I personally could relate to. Even back then when I wasn't as organised and planner centric as I am now, I didn't have it in me to write every day and I'll be honest, it kinda made me feel like I was a bit of a fraud.

It's really only been the last few years that I've heard different advice. I've been someone who's clear that you don't have to write every day to be called a writer. You write when you can, and so long as you're doing the writing, you are a writer. I don't just mean for people like me who have physical limitations on what they do, but every single writer out there. If you can't write daily, that's okay, if you find that you can, that's also okay. I feel like too much pressure is put on people to only write a certain way to be considered 'valid' and the truth is, all the ways are valid because everyone is different.

Personally, I've found a way to write that works for me, and I've talked about it a lot, both here and on Authortube, but you have to find your own path. You have to find the way that works for you on your own. That doesn't mean that you can't ask for advice, and you can't learn from other writer, but that it's a lot of trial and error and taking what other people do, trying it out and seeing if it fits for you. There's nothing wrong if you find that someone's way works for you with adaptation, or even without any, it doesn't make you any less valid as a writer, and if you find that it doesn't work for you in any way, shape, or form, the same applies.

Writing advice is never going to be a one size fits all, everyone works differently and that's a pretty amazing thing. It's especially important to find you own path because so much of it is subjective. I can sit here and tell you that this works for me, and it's the only way it works for me, but that doesn't and shouldn't apply to every writer out there.

The same can be said for the writing every day advice. It's great to have a writing routine, but if you keep pushing yourself to create every single day for the rest of your life, then you will end up burnt out and no one wants that. It's part and parcel of the creative life, there will be times when you need to sit back and refill, and doing that doesn't make you any less of a writer than someone who does write every single day. It's different strokes for different folks, and there's no shame in needing a break.

Personally, I write at a maximum of five days in a row and then I take a break from writing and work on something else, whether that's doing a video or revising a project, or even just taking the day off completely. It works for me because I spend my time when I'm not working, reading, chatting with friends, playing games on my phone and the like. It allows my brain a chance to repair itself, to refill the creative well and go from there. Writing every day is not the only way to be valid, and it never will be.

So take a breath, take a break, and remember that you are valid as a writer so long as you write, doesn't have to be every day, doesn't even have to be every week. You look after you, and don't worry about what anyone else is doing. You've got this.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments below!

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Review of Heartthrob by Estalyn

The panicking voices around me were growing distant. My ears were plugged as if I was locked under water. The warmth of my blood flowing from my body now blanketed my shirt. As the adrenaline violently pulsed through my veins, the room went pitch black.

I was walking back down the hallway of my new high school in Ohio. Dave’s blue aura was filling the air around me. His ghostly spirit felt like the dead of winter. My fist was clenching the strap of my bag jolting up the staircase. My body swung around, revealing the most beautiful green eyes, his sweet woodsy smell floated up my nose. Jason Blackstone stood before me. My body filled with vibrations – I'd seen his latest movie only a month ago. What was this Hollywood heartthrob doing in my new school? Ohio was miles away from California.

My body turned back around; two beefy hands were grasping my shoulders tightly. A pool of hatred erupted in my father’s eyes. I watched his hand reach for the gun. The stone in my necklace was causing my skin to feel frostbitten. Dave’s ghostly hand went to grab my father’s, but the gun had already fired.

Amazon

My Review: 3.5 STARS

I picked this up because the cover and blurb called out to me. I was expecting a romance with a hint of the paranormal and that’s what I got, but I found it hard to get into the story, there were parts that felt like they were written way too young for the protagonist, and while the love story was sweet, it all moved along at a snail’s pace to the point where it got a little frustrating. There were good parts of the book, and I enjoyed the ending once I’d gotten used to the author’s style, but it just didn’t fulfill the promise of the blurb. Overall, a good book, but not a series I’ll be continuing.

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Life Of Joey - February 2022 [CC]

Telling you what I've been up to over the past month! #Authortube

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#TeaserTuesday

Zack wants to help Angelina any way he can...

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 [ID: A light blue background with sunflowers laid out, at the top with the title WAITING ON YOU at the top and Out now in ebook and paperback just below the excerpt. The except reads:

Artist44: Someone STOLE your homework? Why would anyone do that?
AngelAnge: You don’t know the kids at my school. People don’t like me because I’m popular and good at some subjects, and the teachers are always looking for ways to put me in detention >_<
Artist44: Wow, why would the teachers do that?
AngelAnge: They just don’t like me. I don’t know why.
Artist44: At least you have the weekend now to relax and forget about school.
AngelAnge: Yeah, just wish I didn’t have so many chores to do round the house because then I could spend it online talking to you! :-)

At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, in the bottom left corner is the Readers' Favorite Review seal, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]

 

Spoonie Writer: Comparison As A Spoonie

SPOONIE WRITER: COMPARISON AS A SPOONIE

I've always been someone to advocate not comparing yourself to others as a writer, as an author, and in general to be honest. However, I know that when you're a spoonie, and chronically ill/disabled, it can be hard to see all the things you're missing out on. The FOMO is real as a spoonie because while your friends and family are doing this, that, and the other, you're usually just trying to keep going at the slow pace and keep as healthy as possible.

One thing I've really found helps, is to remember that we're all, spoonies and non, working at our own pace. That said, it can be easy to fall into the trap of comparison, especially when it comes to people your age, your skill level and such, achieving their dreams while you're just about managing to keep your head above water. I've had a lot of health ups and downs over the past year, and while I'm hoping that 2022 will be better for me, it's not yet turned out that way.

So, it made sense to talk about the whole comparison game when it comes to being a spoonie. You've got the possibility of people your age, and even younger, just knocking it outta the park and if you're like me, you're over the moon for them, but at the same time, you're a little knocked back because you've not managed to get anywhere near your own goals.

People will say that I am super productive and super organised and while the latter is true, and the former is sometimes true, I do still feel like I'm missing out. I'll see other authors my age, who've maybe been doing this less time and they're doing amazing, and don't get me wrong, I'm cheering them on, but I'm also aware that it's gonna take longer for me, and that's just how it goes. When your life is basically living and surviving from hospital appointment to hospital appointment, you just have to go with the flow and hope that things all work out in the end.

So what can you do about it? After all, it's not like me saying, just don't do it, is going to have any effect. At the end of the day, spoonies and those with chronic conditions, whether physical or mental, they find that their lives are very much curtailed by the limits of our health. That's not to say that we can't achieve things, but that they generally seem to happen on a slower time scale.

I think it's really important to remember that when it comes to social media, you're very much seeing the highlights reel. While some people will share everything from the good to the bad and in between, a lot of the time, writers, authors, and other creative, they'll be wanting to share more of the ups than the downs because that's their public face, it's what a lot of readers see, and it's their way to make sure that it's putting their best foot forward.

While personally I try to include some of the down moments, it doesn't always work that way. To people watching my videos or seeing my instgram and twitter posts, I might seem like someone who doesn't really struggle with the day to day things, but that, I promise you, is not the case. I've been trying to be more transparent this year, but it's not always worked out that way. Like I said above, my health stuff has been up in the air and it's easier, sometimes, to just focus on the good. So I can't really blame other writers and such doing the same.

Just keep that in mind when you're seeing people's posts. You're not seeing the whole picture and that's okay, no one should be forced to share things they don't want to. Just remember that it's okay to grieve the loss of things you planned, of things you thought you'd have managed by now, and keep moving forward, keep writing, and keep creating, and know that you will get there!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments below!

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Review of Gates Of Demons by Tamar Sloan

Seven Gates of Hell. Seven deadly sins. One impossible choice.

When a man appears in flowing robes, telling Reign he’s the Keeper of the Grail, Reign knows the inevitable has happened—he’s lost his mind. Content to cruise down his road of self-destruction, he refuses to believe the prophecies of death and devastation.

Arielle’s mom has been abducted. She soon learns her unassuming, scholarly mother dedicated her life to secretly researching the holy relic. Determined to find her before it’s too late, Arielle’s path crosses Reign’s. Their inexplicable draw to each other is a complicating factor neither of them want.

When demons close in, thirsting for the power of the Grail, Reign and Arielle are drawn into a battle of good and evil far greater than they could’ve imagined. As they race to find seven abducted women, they discover one of them is an Innocent.

An Innocent who will be the key to keeping the first Gate of Hell closed. And if they fail, not only will a deadly sin be unleashed on the world…Lucifer will be one step closer to raining his fury down on Earth. 

Amazon 

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up having read Solan before and always loved her way of twisting the paranormal into the story. Arielle and Reign were engaging characters from the first page, and I ended up flying through the story and finishing it in one sitting. The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing, kept me hooked on trying to work out what was going to happen next and how it would all sort out in the end. There were reveals I didn’t see coming and the whole story set up for an amazing series, one that I will be watching and following. Overall, very much recommended to all who love a good paranormal story!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.