It's November and some of us are feeling the absence of NaNoWriMo - but there are lots of other options! This week I take a look at writing challenges and how to use these to finish that first draft. In the craft segment, do you need to be a lawyer to write a legal procedural? Spoiler: No.

Remember when we all scrambled to learn about SEO—that mysterious art of getting Google to notice our websites and books? Well, the game is changing again, and this time it's all about something called Generative Optimization....nothing to be afraid of. Not like the Domestic Thriller genre, when the killer could be sitting beside you on the couch right now

Welcome to Midweek Murder Motivation. Today we're diving into one of the most delicate balancing acts in our genre: the art of the red herring—keeping readers guessing without leaving them feeling cheated or frustrated.

Today I'm addressing that perpetual challenge for writers everywhere: finding time to write when your life seems determined to fill every available moment.

Let's start by dismissing the most persistent myth about writing time—that you need long, uninterrupted hours to make meaningful progress. The reality? Most books get written in the margins of busy lives, in fragments of time that their authors deliberately carve out and fiercely protect.

Think about the last time you bought a book online. Did you read the reviews before making your purchase? I bet you did. In fact, studies show that 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. That's a pretty powerful statistic.

For self-published authors, reviews are even more important. Without the backing of a traditional publisher, we don't have the same marketing resources or built-in audience. We rely on word-of-mouth and organic discovery to get our books in front of readers. And that's where reviews come in.

In the craft segment, I continue my overview of crime subgenres, with cozy mysteries.

Today we're tackling that dreaded affliction known as writer's block—that paralyzing sensation when your creativity seems to vanish, leaving you staring at a blank page with mounting panic.

Let's start with an important truth: writer's block isn't a mysterious ailment or a sign that your creative well has permanently dried up. It's your brain's perfectly rational response to specific conditions—and once you understand those conditions, you can address them systematically.

Is email marketing dead? Not if you want to be a successful mystery author. This week's episode dives into the essentials of creating an email list and then engaging regularly with your readers. Then, in the craft section, the technical aspects of writing police procedurals - maintaining authenticity without drowning your readers in boring info-dumps.

Today, I'm addressing something rarely discussed but vitally important: self-care for writers who regularly immerse themselves in the darker aspects of human experience.