Michael Dymmoch
This is what S. M. has to say:
"When it comes to writing crime
fiction, I dislike rules. The kind that say, “You must have a body (preferably dead) in the first chapter.” I know
you know what I mean: how-to writing books that are rule-bound, prescriptive,
and formulaic.
As a teacher
most of my life, I tried to give students the basics and then say “Go play.” I
tried to give them a toolbox that they could dip into to pick and choose.
Basics they could use in different ways. When I started writing crime fiction,
what I wanted was a toolbox – clear, precise delineations of craft that could
find different applications.
Some of the
questions I had were: How can I raise the suspense level in this sagging
middle? My opening sucks – what can I do to hook the reader? I’ve written a
character that has less personality than a cardboard cutout – how can I breathe
some life into him?
I’ve finally
found my ideal toolbox: Writing Murder.
(Disclaimer: I
edited the book, so I may be a tad biased.)
The book began
as a series of classes at The Mystery Company, Jim Huang’s bookstore in Carmel,
Indiana. Each author not only presented a wonderful class, but then wrote an
essay for the book. Each of them donated their work to the Writers’ Center of
Indiana, publisher of Writing Murder and co-sponsor of the lecture series. Profits from the book go to support WCI outreach programs to writers, schools
and prisons of central Indiana.
Outfit members
Michael Allen Dymmoch (“The Bloody Ends: Killer Openings, Killer Endings”) and
Libby Hellmann (“Building Suspense”) join Jeanne Dams, Phil Dunlap, Kit Ehrman,
Terence Faherty, Dana Kaye, William Kent Krueger, Beverle Graves Myers, Tony
Perona, Mary Saums, Sharon Short, Barbara Shoup, and Mark Richard Zubro to
offer wonderful essays in voices all their own.
Mystery author Barbara D’Amato
said: “Writing Murder is a wonderful read. I found something helpful in every
essay. They call it a basic guide, but there is useful material here for the
beginner or the much-published author.” I agree.
So, if you’ve
been playing with “this idea” for a story, start with the Introduction and with
each essay, begin to fill in that idea. Get the toolbox and write – after all,
we’re facing the post-holiday doldrums and what could be better than spending
time with your own fictional characters?"
Writing Murder is available on Amazon, or directly from the
Writers’ Center of Indiana at indianawriters dot org.
