Morgan St. James's Blog – April 2011 Archive (9)

TODAYS WRITERS TRICKS OF THE TRADE: E IS FOR EXPERIENCE AND EMOTIONS

It is always a challenge to make characters seem real, but using your own experiences and emotions, like a method actor, takes them a long way.

LINK TO TODAY'S COLUMN:…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 29, 2011 at 6:49am — No Comments

Las Vegas is an inspirational town for writers

My Spotlight column today in the Las Vegas edition of examiner.com is about what a great inspirational city Las Vegas is for authors. LINK: http://exm.nr/spotlightonVegas.

The third and newest Silver Sisters Mysteries caper, currently being edited, is "Vanishing Act in Vegas" and…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 20, 2011 at 6:52am — No Comments

Chatting with former FBI undercover agent Jack Garcia who helped bring down a Mafia family

LINK: http://exm.nr/garcia-1-LA

This interview was so fascinating I wanted to share it all around. In the tradition of Donnie Brasco or Serpico, Jack Garcia…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 14, 2011 at 4:31am — No Comments

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL AT THE APRIL 10 SISTERS IN CRIME SOUTHERN NEVADA MEETING

It is challenging to keep coming up with original ideas for writer's group presentations. Today’s Spotlight in the Las Vegas edition of Examiner.com is about Sisters in Crime Southern Nevada met the challenge with the custom Mystery Jeopardy game presented by Sisters (and Misters) in Crime/Southern Nevada this past Sunday. What a hoot. Scott Duncan who has designed games for major accounts delighted everyone with his…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 13, 2011 at 4:34am — No Comments

60s Rock and Roll is alive and well at V2 Theater in Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas

I wanted share one of my columns in today’s Las Vegas edition of Examiner.com with you. This one isn’t really about writing. It’s about rock and roll.

You see, 60s Rock is alive and well in Las Vegas. I was invited to review and enjoy “Echoes of the 60s” at the V2 Theater at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas and took a step back in time.…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 9, 2011 at 4:10am — No Comments

Writers tricks of the trade: P is for Pacing - Part I - Speeding things up

The pace of a story is critical. It can keep the reader engaged or turn them off. Imagine pace as though you were driving a car. Part I deals with speeding things up.

http://exm.nr/fkqMXI

Remember, writers should…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 8, 2011 at 4:00am — No Comments

AN INTERVIEW WITH GARY PHILLIPS FOR NOIR GRAPHIC NOVEL FANS

Hey all you graphic novel noir fans -- today's L.A. Examiner.com Spotlight is on the amazing author Gary Phillips. His illustrations say it all. Check out: http://exm.nr/GaryPhillips

Added by Morgan St. James on April 7, 2011 at 4:45am — No Comments

Writers tricks of the trade: R is for Rewrite

Today's Writer tricks of the trade in the Los Angeles edition of examiner.com is about rewrites.

LINK:…

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Added by Morgan St. James on April 2, 2011 at 4:23am — No Comments

A BAD REVIEW DOES NOT HAVE TO EQUAL A MELTDOWN

No author is thrilled to receive a bad review, and I’m no exception. Yes, I’ve occasionally gotten them, but a bad review doesn’t have to equal a meltdown. Read today’s Writers Tricks of the Trade in the Las Vegas edition of examiner.com. LINK:…