Writing Tools - New Project Worksheet

I have had way too many ideas that I forgot for lack of writing them down. So I have learned how to keep them. Even if I have plenty to work on right now, later on when I just can’t focus, I go to one of my folders and jumpstart my muse with them. When there’s a new concept I start on it right away, even if I’m busy with another project. At the very least I put the pertinent details down so they can be remembered. Now this is only true with pretty detailed ideas, anything very basic or vague gets stuck in a folder I call the Idea File. Here’s a list of how I stay focused and organized with a new project. First off I keep something called a Generic Book Folder on my computer. Inside of this book folder are five documents called Book, Outline, Research, S.E.W. (see my blog on story elements worksheets), & thoughts. Whenever I start a new project I just fill in these blank pages for that particular story. Here’s how it works for me:

Start a new book folder: Give the idea a working title that will help identify it. Change all the names in the Generic Book Folder to the new title.

Start a “Thoughts on…” page: fill in as much info as possible. Don’t forget anything important! Come up with easy details, such as character names, etc. In mine I always include a plot summary, list of characters & their descriptions, a tagline, and a place for random stuff I’m pretty sure I want in the book.

Do any preliminary research possible & store it: this will prevent the easy excuse of wandering “research” on the internet later. Not that you can’t do more research, but try to work out the basics before you start.

Start an outline: get as far as possible without getting stuck. Work out as many plot points, specific scenes, & important details as is feasible. Figure out a resolution. Make sure everything adds up.

Fill out a Story Elements Worksheet (S.E.W.): use it to correct lags, fix story contradictions, maintain pace, add realism, increase conflict, and maximize readability. Figure out a tagline and a summary. If it’s too complicated for either of these things then it’s too complicated to read. Simplify.

Start Writing: the fun part! Add color, details, characterization, dialogue, etc. Flesh it out. Don’t get overzealous though, adding too much now just means more editing later. At this point I try to write 3000 words a day, only taking breaks every 1000 words. But this is me. Set yourself a realistic goal & stick with it.

Go back and get their attention: Make the first chapter grab them and not let go. Make sure there’s a killer first line. Draw them in and hold them hostage. Unless these two things are perfect, the book isn’t finished. Double check the point of view and if necessary, change it. No matter how much work it is; if it’s not right, it won’t sell. Try to be objective about the characters; they have to work so make them fit the story.

Use the editing worksheet: Time to kill your darlings. Edit, edit, & then edit some more. My first goal is always to cut 10% off of first draft. Next goal is to get it within 80,000 - 120,000 word range. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but that is typical range for a mystery or thriller novel. Make it slick & glossy by removing all the fat and unnecessary prose. Look at how the pages read, is there enough white space? Make sure names and details work with the story.

Correct the damn thing: Lastly, but most important of all, correct absolutely every typo, misspelling, punctuation, grammar, and style error. No exceptions!!!

Hand the finished copy out to your Beta Readers: I like to have the 10 or so beta readers correct & assess the reader copy, then fill out a reader worksheet. This is so they know what kind of feedback to give. People are surprisingly reluctant to critique your work if they know you, so I give them a form to fill out. This seems to make them more comfortable, which means I get more meaningful feedback. Make absolutely sure they understand not to pull any punches. Criticism teaches more than praise.

Print out final draft: after all corrections, editing, and reader opinions have been completed, I print out the final draft on good quality paper, double spaced & in 12 point Times New Roman font.

Send it off into the world & forget about it: write a good query letter and send out as many copies as necessary via first class mail in a sturdy box. Now I forget about it. Worrying accomplishes nothing, and stifles creativity.

Finally, start a new project: keeping busy means no worrying about the last one, and having more chances to succeed, so begin immediately!

That’s it! I know it seems like an oversimplification, but it really does work. You don't have to do exactly as I do, and everyone’s process is different, but you must have a process. Without dedication & hard work, writing is just a hobby. So keep organized, keep practicing, and don’t give up.

So you want to write about the FBI?

There appears to be some confusion as to the exact nature of all the alphabet branches of our government. You know, FBI, CIA, NSA, ATF, etc. For some reason, they tend to be used somewhat interchangeably in various fiction books. In order to help clear up the differences, Special Agent Bill Whatrights of the FBI has agreed to answer a few questions for us.

Hello Agent Bill. Nice to meet you.

Um, that’s Special Agent Whatrights.

Sorry. Special Agent Whatrights then. Thanks for agreeing to help out.

Yeah. What station do you work for again?

This is for a blog Mr. Whatrights. Not TV.

A blog? Are you serious? And that’s Special Agent. Or S.A. for short. Ok?

Ok. My first question is: What exactly is the FBI’s mission?

Well, on our website it states that it is “To protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.”

Hmmm. Pretty broad. What exactly does that mean?

Um, it also says that “In executing the following priorities, we will produce and use intelligence to protect the nation from threats and to bring to justice those who violate the law.” Those Priorities are to:

1. Protect the United States from terrorist attack

2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage

3. Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes

4. Combat public corruption at all levels

5. Protect civil rights

6. Combat transnational/national criminal organizations and enterprises

7. Combat major white-collar crime

8. Combat significant violent crime

9. Support federal, state, local and international partners

10. Upgrade technology to successfully perform the FBI's mission”

S.A. Bill, are you reading that directly off the FBI website?

Um, yeah. Pretty much.

Ok, but from now on, can you try to use your own words please?

I guess so. Yes.

Thank you. So the FBI’s mission does not include kidnapping specifically?

No, not as such. Not unless the crime crosses state lines.

Really? But on television they ALWAYS call in the FBI on kidnappings. And serial murders too. Are you sure those aren’t part of your mission?

You shouldn’t always believe what you see on TV. Although we do sometimes consult on high profile, er, I mean unusual cases. In an unofficial capacity, of course.

Of course. Can we back up for a minute? Did I hear you say that you deal with intelligence? You mean foreign intelligence? Isn’t that the CIA’s deal?

The FBI has always been concerned with the nation’s security. That includes intelligence, yes.

Seriously?

Seriously.

Moving on. When the FBI prosecutes a case, do they -

I have to interrupt there. We don’t prosecute any cases.

Ok, but when you do -

We don’t.

I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Are you trying to say that the FBI doesn’t EVER bring cases to court?

That’s correct. It’s our job to investigate and then to bring the cases to the U.S. Attorney or the Department of Justice, not to prosecute anyone. We can be called on to testify though.

Huh. TV is wrong again. Who knew? Do they even ask you guys questions before they start making shows and movies about you?

My guess would be no.

Fascinating. Next you’re going to tell me that there aren’t any “X-files”.

There aren’t.

What? Come on, you’re joking. You can tell me, you have to have a few weird ones.

Strange cases, yes. “X-files”, no. And most of the strange ones are because of the people who report them, not the events themselves.

Unbelievable. The media sure has dropped the ball with this. Or are you just saying that because they are always exposing you as the limelight hogging megalomaniacs you are?

That’s a myth too. We usually get along quite well with the various branches of law enforcement we encounter. Well, except for the really dumb, hayseed types.

Oh.

That was a joke.

Aha. Very funny S.A. Bill.

Yeah. Hey listen, how much am I getting paid for this?

This is a blog S.A. Bill. We don’t make any money, so we also don’t pay.

Seriously?

Seriously.

I gotta go.

There you have it folks. The truth about the FBI. If it doesn’t make things crystal clear, at least maybe it sets the record permanently wrong. Cheers!

Go straight to the source -

http://www.fbi.gov/

Cool diagram on the FBI structure:

http://people.howstuffworks.com/fbi.htm

Really helpful links

I thought I would post a list of some links I find incredibly helpful. There are SO many great sites out there, it's hard to narrow it down, but here are my favorites:

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service - tremendous amaounts of information on everything from criminal science to substance abuse issues:

http://www.ncjrs.gov/

Trutv's crime pages - there's nothing more helpful to writing realistic bad guys than to read about real ones:

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/index.html

Want to know about prison life? This is the place:

http://www.corrections.com/

Associated Press website - the ultimate news clearinghouse:

http://www.corrections.com/

Three HUGE reference sites - they have everything:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/

http://www.refdesk.com/

http://www.worldalmanac.com/

Very cool science stuff:

http://whyfiles.org/

http://www.eol.org/

http://www.si.edu/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/

Writing Helps & Hints:

http://www.litencyc.com/

http://www.sfhub.ac.uk/

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/

http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/

Just Cool:

http://eserver.org/

http://www.snopes.com/

http://www.newsoftheweird.com/

http://www.oddee.com/

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

That's it for now!

Writing Tools - Editing Worksheet

Let me be up front with something. I have a really hard time editing my work. I tend to swing in extreme directions, either self critiquing way too much while I’m in the middle of what should be writing time, or else not wanting to get rid of really pointless self aggrandizement because I like it so damn much. In order to overcome these two tendencies, I have combed over a TON of advice on editing and come up with this list of what seems to work for me. Some of it is old news, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

Show, don’t tell. While this old saw has been oft repeated, it is still one of the best pieces of advice. Don’t ignore it just because you have heard it before.

Don’t forget the small stuff. Typos and misspellings are distracting.

Eliminate “said” wherever possible. Use the name of the speaker in connection with an action if you can.

Work descriptions into the narrative instead of indulging in long, detailed descriptive paragraphs. While some writers can use description to enhance a piece, more often than not the results are boring and readers skim them.

Use body language to show feelings when possible. Nothing sounds more like an amateur than a lot of declarations like: "She was angry. He was sad. They were both tired." Stop it!

Be invisible! Readers don’t want you, they want story.

Use normal words, but not boring words.

Use sharp verbs instead of soft verbs with modifiers. “She ran quickly” becomes “she sprinted“.

Use precise nouns instead of vague nouns with adjectives. “The tall, breezy, elegant tree” becomes “the Willow”.

Specify nouns and verbs. “She ate dinner” can also be “She savored the green curry”.

Eliminate all clichés. I wish I could underline this, put it in caps, and make it bold. If I could shout it, I would.

Eliminate as many adverbs as possible. The definition of an adverb is a word that tells when, why, what, or how something happened. This automatically conflicts with the "show, don't tell" rule, and it's no coincidence I made that first on my list. Adverbs are pointless words, get rid of them.

Eliminate as many pronouns as possible. He said. She went. We ran. Not very interesting, is it?

Kill your darlings. Another oldie, but goodie. Take a second look at any passages you are particularly proud of. They are probably the ones you should cut. (This may be the one I have the hardest time with!)

Is the back story interesting, germane, brief? Then get rid of it.

Does each paragraph compel you to read the next? Each chapter? Make it so.

Use the P.O.V. to maximize suspense. Think like a movie director. (A brief side note: Don’t be afraid to change your perspective! This isn’t as hard as you may think, and I have had WIP that simply didn’t work until I changed the POV. Try it!)

Teach, but don’t preach. Learning a few new things when I read a book is cool. Suddenly feeling like I'm attending a lecture isn't.

Trust your readers. Don't talk down to them, and certainly let them figure things out for themselves.

Avoid passive tense. Make it so characters and objects do things, instead of things being done to them.

Characters are not interesting because of who they are. They are interesting because of what they do. Who they are may effect what they do, but back story and exposition are poor ways to describe characters. Action and dialog are much better. And these actions and dialogs should be revealed through the plot.

Note: Average novel length is 80,000 to 120,000 words. There are exceptions, but epics aren’t particularly welcome. So try to get your final draft down in that range.

My process now means editing nothing until the project is done (other than typos & misspellings), then going over the first draft with this list and a fine toothed comb. My goal is to cut at least 10% off of my first draft. I then hand it over to my trusted readers (along with a nifty little worksheet of their own to fill out). Finally, I go over it one last time, keeping their input in mind and tweaking the little stuff. Only at this point does it get sent out. So here it is, I hope it helps!

So you want to write about the Military?

I have never been in the military. However, I do have quite a few loved ones who are. Hanging around them must have rubbed off, because I find myself wincing at quite a few books about the Armed Forces where the author didn't do enough research. So here are a few basic facts to keep in mind.

Note: I am only covering the US military, since if I started in with the rest of them, we would be here for years…

United States military ranks, in order from lowest to highest, are as follows (the figures in parenthesis represent pay grade):

E = Enlisted, O - Officer, W = Warrant Officer

Army -

Enlisted: Private (E1), E2 Private, Private First Class (E3), Specialist/Corporal (E4), Sergeant (E5), Staff Sergeant (E6), Sergeant First Class (E7), Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E8), Sergeant Major/Command Sergeant major (E9).

Warrant Officer: Warrant Officer 1 (W1), Chief Warrant Officer 2-5 (W2-5).

Officer: Second Lieutenant (O1), First Lieutenant (O2), Captain (O3), Major (O4), Lieutenant Colonel (O5), Colonel (O6), Brigadier General (O7), Major General (O8), Lieutenant General (O9), General (O10).

*There is also General of the Army, which is only a wartime rank. It is the same pay grade as General (O10), and is a five star rank. Currently there are none. The last person to hold that rank was General Douglas MacArthur.

Navy -

Enlisted: Seaman Recruit (E1), Seaman (E2), Seaman First Class (E3), Petty Officer Third Class (E4), Petty Officer Second Class (E5), Petty Officer First Class (E6), Chief Petty Officer (E7), Senior Chief Petty Officer (E8), Master Chief Petty Officer/Command Master Chief Petty Officer (E9).

Warrant Officer: Warrant Officer 1 (W1), Chief Warrant Officer 2-5 (W2-5).

Officer: Ensign (O1), Lieutenant Junior Grade (O2), Lieutenant (O3), Lieutenant Commander (O4), Commander (O5), Captain (O6), Rear Admiral Lower Half (O7), Rear Admiral Upper Half (O8), Vice Admiral (O9), Admiral (O10).

Air Force -

Enlisted: Airman Recruit (E1), Airman (E2), Airman First Class (E3), Sergeant (E4), Staff Sergeant (E5), Technical Sergeant (E6), Master Sergeant (E7), Senior Master Sergeant (E8), Chief Master Sergeant (E9).

Officer: Second Lieutenant (O1), First Lieutenant (O2), Captain (O3), Major (O4), Lieutenant Colonel (O5), Colonel (O6), Brigadier General (O7), Major General (O8), Lieutenant General (O9), General (O10).

Marines -

Enlisted: Private (E1), Private First Class (E2), Lance Corporal (E3), Corporal (E4), Sergeant (E5), Staff Sergeant (E6), Technical Sergeant/Gunnery Sergeant (E7), Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (E8), Sergeant Major(E9).

Warrant Officer: Master Gunner 1 - 4 (W1 - W4).

Officer: Second Lieutenant (O1), First Lieutenant (O2), Captain (O3), Major (O4), Lieutenant Colonel (O5), Colonel (O6), Brigadier General (O7), Major General (O8), Lieutenant General (O9), General (O10).

Coast Guard -

Enlisted: Seaman Recruit (E1), Seaman Apprentice (E2), Seaman (E3), Petty Officer Third Class (E4), Petty Officer Second Class (E5), Petty Officer First Class (E6), Chief Petty Officer (E7), Senior Chief Petty Officer (E8), Master Chief Petty Officer (E9), Command Master Chief Petty Officer (E9).

Warrant Officer: Chief Warrant Officer 1 - 4 (W1 - W4).

Officer: Ensign (O1), Lieutenant Junior Grade (O2), Lieutenant (O3), Lieutenant Commander (O4), Commander (O5), Captain (O6), Rear Admiral Lower Half (O7), Rear Admiral (O8), Vice Admiral (O9), Admiral (O10).

There are more specialized ranks in the military, but those are the basics.

Random facts:

The US has 247,000 troops and civilians posted overseas, with a presence in more than 130 countries, covering every time zone. The US has 13 military bases in countries around Afghanistan. It has military presence in Uzbekistan, Takijstan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.

The Department of Defense employs 1.4 million people on active duty. It is the largest employer in the US, with more employees than ExxonMobil, Ford, General Motors and GE combined.

The term "sniper" is derived from "snipe", which is a bird that was difficult to hunt. The term dates back to the 18th century.

In American naval slang, submarines are the only vessels referred to as "boats", whereas surface vessels are colloquially referred to as "ships".

During the Siege of Mafeking in the Second Boer War, Robert Baden-Powell recruited and trained 12-15 year old boys as scouts. The Mafeking Cadet Corps was a group of youths that supported the troops by carrying messages, which freed the men for military duties. The Cadet Corps performed well, helping in the defense of the town, and were one of the many factors that inspired Baden-Powell to form the Boy Scouts, a youth organization originally run along military lines.

The Department of Defense owns 40,000 properties, covering 18 million acres of land.

The Defense Department buys enough fuel every day to drive a car around the world 13,000 times.

The US headquarters at the Pentagon employs 23,000 workers and incorporates over 17 miles of corridors.

The US spends an average of $28,000 on research and development for each member of its armed forces compared to the European average of $7,000.

Some common misconceptions:

Army Special Forces purpose is to train indigenous troops in foreign countries to fight their own war - not to fight it themselves.

Delta Force & Navy Seals conduct covert operations in foreign countries, not Special Forces. Navy Seals also do long range reconnaissance patrols.

Nobody goes to Special Forces out of boot camp. You have to be a NCO, or Non-commissioned officer, to apply.

Roger Wilco is just short hand for “Roger, will comply“. It is NOT someone’s name.

There is a common rumor about the US military dog tags issued between 1941 and the early 70s. The rumor states that the notch on the dog tag is meant to be placed between the front teeth of a deceased soldier, and forcefully jammed between the teeth, for later identification of the body. The real, and only, purpose of this notch was to hold the blank tag in the machine that punched the letters onto the tag. Current machines do not need the notch to hold blank tags, therefore current tags do not have the notch.

Well there you have it. I am sure I missed a gazillion things, but I will leave it up to the experts to cover that stuff. As usual, I would love to have your input!

Writing Tools - Misused Words & Phrases

I hate it when words are used incorrectly. The phrase “I don’t think that word means what you think it means!” may be one of my most repeated sentences. Regardless of this, I am guilty of word abuse. Maybe this will help.

Homophones (Words that sound alike but have different meanings) -

Accept/Except: Accept is a verb meaning to receive. Except is usually a preposition meaning excluding, but can also be a verb meaning to exclude.

Affect/Effect: Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence. Effect is usually a noun meaning result, but can also be a verb meaning to bring about.

Allusion/Illusion: An Allusion is an indirect reference. An illusion is a misconception or false impression.

Capital/Capitol: Capital refers to a city or to wealth & resources, capitol to a building where lawmakers meet.

Climactic/Climatic: Climactic is derived from climax, the point of greatest intensity in a series or progression of events. Climatic is derived from climate; it refers to meteorological conditions.

Complement/Compliment: Complement completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection. Compliment is an expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation.

Discreet/Discrete: Discrete is something separate. Discreet shows prudent and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspection.

Elicit/Illicit: Elicit is a verb meaning to bring out or to evoke. Illicit is an adjective meaning unlawful.

Emigrate/Immigrate: Emigrate means to leave one country or region to settle in another. Immigrate means to enter another country and reside there.

Flair/Flare: A flair is a talent, while a flare is a burst (of anger, fire, etc.)

Principle/Principal: Principal is a noun meaning the head of a school or an organization or a sum of money. Principle is a noun meaning a basic truth or law.

Stationary/Stationery: You are stationary when you aren’t moving. Stationery is something you write on.

Than/Then: Than is a conjunction used in comparisons; then is an adverb denoting time.

There/Their/They're: There is an adverb specifying place; it is also an expletive. Their is a possessive pronoun. They're is a contraction of they are.

To/Too/Two: To is a preposition; too is an adverb; two is a number.

Whose/Who’s: Whose is the possessive form of who. Who’s is a contraction meaning “who is.”

Your/You're: Your is a possessive pronoun; you're is a contraction of you are.

Similar Words -

Calvary/Cavalry: Calvary is the hill where Jesus was crucified. Cavalry are military troops, usually on horseback.

Desert/Dessert: A desert is a hot, dry patch of sand. Dessert, on the other hand, is the yummy stuff you eat after dinner.

Eminent/Imminent: Eminent is someone or something of high rank, station, or quality; noteworthy. Imminent is something about to happen. You do NOT have an eminent birthday, even if your ego is huge.

Farther/Further: Farther is used for physical distance, whereas further means to a greater degree.

Fewer/Less: Use fewer when referring to something that can be counted numerically. Use less when it’s something that doesn’t lend itself to a simple numeric amount.

i.e/e.g: i.e. is short for the Latin phrase “id est“, which means “that is“. e.g. is short for the Latin phrase “exempli gratia” which means “for the sake of example“. So use i.e. as “in other words“, and e.g. as “for example“.

Imply/Infer: A reader infers what an author implies. In other words, when you imply something, you hint at it. When you infer something, you draw a conclusion based on clues.

Insure/Ensure: Insure means to provide or arrange insurance for. Whereas ensure means to make certain. You can ensure that you are insured, but not the other way around.

Lie/Lay: Lie is an intransitive verb meaning to recline or rest on a surface. Lay is a transitive verb meaning to put or place.

Lose/Loose: If your pants are too loose you may lose them.

Moral/Morale: Morals are something you want to teach your kids. If your team’s morale is low, you need to do something to boost their confidence.

Peak/Peek/Pique: Take a peek at the peak of that mountain. Doesn’t it pique your interest?

Pore/Pour: Sweat can pour out of your pores.

Set/Sit: Set is a transitive verb meaning to put or to place. Sit is an intransitive verb meaning to be seated.

Words & Phrases that just seem to cause trouble -

Supposed to: is correct. Suppose to is wrong.

Used to: See above.

Toward: There is no “s” at the end of the word.

Anyway: Also has no ending “s“. Anyways is a regional speech pattern.

Couldn't care less: Be sure to make it negative. “I could care less” doesn’t make any sense. If you could care less, then you DO care, right?

Alright: This one causes a LOT of debate. A word, or not a word? I am not going to argue about it, but my personal preference is to not use it in writing.

Could Have: Not could of. The phrase that sounds like that is actually a contraction of could have - could’ve. Even that is considered informal speech.

Inflammable: Another word with a pointless prefix, but a real word nonetheless. Yes, it means it CAN catch on fire, not that it’s fireproof.

Literally: This word is used to show that a statement is actually true and not exaggerated. So if your husband will literally kill you for buying that purse, he needs to be locked up.

Unique: Something can’t be “kind of unique” or even “very unique.” It’s either one-of-a-kind or it isn’t. There is no in between when it comes to unique.

Irregardless: I can not stand this word. Unfortunately, the debate over whether it is a word still rages, even though if it IS a word, it’s a pointless one. Regardless already means “in spite of”, so what do we need another syllable for?

Same Exact: One or the other would be all right but the use of both is redundant.

Moot Point: A mute point would be a point that didn’t make noise. Does that make sense? No.

Invariably: This word means “never varying”. For some reason people keep using it the same way they would “usually”.

Orientated: This is actually a word, but an unnecessary one. It is just a longer version of oriented, which renders it obsolete. Another one of my personal pet peeves.

Alot: No such word! A lot. Say it with me… a ____ lot. Two words. Thank you.

Ok, that’s about it. I do some of these things, even though I know they are wrong. Hopefully doing this post will help me, and maybe you. I know this isn’t everything, feel free to add yours.

Note: Definitions were provided by www.thefreedictionary.com

Writing Tools - Story Elements Worksheet

Writing is a very personal thing, and each writers process should be whatever they are most comfortable with. That said, sometimes it doesn't move the way you want it to. Problems with pace and momentum can be hard obstacles to overcome. After having read every piece of advice I can get my hands on, from magazines & blogs to thick heavy books, I have put together this worksheet to help my work maintain the velocity I’m looking for. Hope it helps yours!

Story Elements Worksheet

State the plot as a question:

Come up with reasons the answer could be no:

Use these reasons as trials and tribulations for the protagonist:

Give the protagonist concrete qualities, both good and bad:

Give the protagonist a good reason to keep trying, despite setbacks:

Give the antagonist a good reason to do what they are doing:

Keep making things worse and arranging obstacles for your protagonist:

Build in a deadline to keep things moving:

Show no mercy. The more upsetting things get, the more reason to try to find out if things turn out ok:

Include facts to tie the story to the real world and to teach:

Make the setting a part of the story, almost a character:

What are the internal conflicts of each character:

What is their back story & is it important:

What do they want:

What are their objectives:

What are they afraid of:

What do they love:

What do they see, smell, taste, hear, feel:

Who are their supporting cast:

Is the antagonist interesting:

Are they believable:

Are they frightening:

Do they have motivation & a belief in what they are doing:

What is the outcome:

Does the story have a theme & if so, what is it:

So you want to write about Serial Killers?

I don’t know about you, but a serial killer is a sure way to get me to check out the cover copy of a book. Why are we as a society so fascinated by them? In my opinion it’s mostly their alien quality, the sense that they are something apart from the rest of us. Not to mention that we are used to being the top of the food chain, and serial killers imply that we really aren’t.

Whatever the reason, things sure have changed since we first saw Psycho. Due to the glut of serial killers in the media, we seem to have gotten reality and fiction pretty mixed up when it comes to these predators. So here’s a little authenticity:

According to a study by Radford University the median IQ of serial killers was 102. While this is considered average, it is by no means genius. So all those scary-intelligent killers in the media aren’t nearly as likely as you might think. Of course, these results are based on the ones who got caught, so who knows?

The Holy Trinity of serial killers. You know, all serial killers were bed-wetters, cruel to animals, and abused as children (Some people also include fire-starters). Well, according to the FBI, this simply isn’t true. While some documented cases have revealed these “symptoms”, plenty have not. Unfortunately, after all these years, we still don’t have any accurate predictors for serial killers' behavior. So including them in your book is legitimate, but not a necessity. I think that killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, who never really had any indicators at all, are a lot more frightening.

Profiles are in no way infallible. After having compiled massive amounts of information on serial killers, we now understand them a little better. However, those amazingly accurate profiles you see on TV are rare at best. Just check out this article to see what I mean. Profiles are tools, not sure things.

Serial Killers do not only kill strangers. There have been numerous cases where a captured serial killer is linked to a past victim they knew. In hindsight it may seem obvious, but usually at the time of the murder the killer was just another anonymous acquaintance.

Not all serial killers have a specific ritual. Whether you call it modus operandi, fetish, signature, or ritual, everyone seems to think that serial killers are victims of their own obsessions. While there have been a few murderers with these things, plenty of them diverge often, or even constantly, from this routine. One great example is Tommy Lynn Sells. He claims to have killed between 60 - 70 people, stabbing some, shooting some, bludgeoning others. While he seems to have had a predilection for children, he also killed adults, and even the elderly, with no ritual or signature in sight.

Have you ever seen the ViCAP form? I have. It is ridiculously long and boring. You can download one here. Because of this and the fact that cops have too big a workload already, they only get filled out sometimes. Even when they do, the biggest plus to this sort of database is for research and analysis purposes. As of today, I am unaware of ViCAP ever having helped catch a serial killer.

Most serial killers really are white males between the ages of 20 - 35. That’s true. However, that does not mean all of them are. Just a few examples:

Eugene Britt, 8 or more victims, African American

Jarvis Catoe, 13 victims, African American

Yang Xinhai, 67 victims, Asian

Charles Ng, 12 victims, Asian American

Rafael Resendez-Ramirez, 9 victims, Mexican

Rory Conde, 6 victims, Columbian

So don’t forget when writing about serial killers, they can be any age, race, or even sex.

A few random facts:

The United States leads in serial killers with 76% of the world’s total. However, some people dispute this number, saying that we only catch & identify more.

The only real definition of a serial killer is someone who murders more than three victims, one at a time, in a relatively short interval. This obviously means that there are a lot more crimes than expected that fall under the heading “Serial Killing”.

In Peter Vronsky’s book “Serial Killers”, he asserts that almost every month a new case of serial murder is reported somewhere in the world.

The BSU, or Behavioral Sciences Unit, of the FBI was originally created for psychological study of hostage takers.

Although we hear a lot of numbers being repeated, the actual total of confirmed serial killer victims in the United States between the years of 1800 - 1995 are estimated at 3,680. This averages out to about 18 victims a year, although the numbers did escalate after 1970. Whether this is due to higher solve rates or an actual increase is unknown. As stated above, however, this only includes the known victims, which leaves a lot of room for error.

The perceived rise in serial killings over the last forty years is real. However, it is only the latest in several serial murder epidemics that have taken place throughout history. Between 1911-15 & 1935-41, respectively, there were surges. Clearly serial killers are not such a new phenomenon as some think!

I hope this page helps clear up a few misconceptions and falsehoods. If you have anything to add to this, feel free. Below you will find a list of some good serial killer information and reference materials. Warning: some of them are upsetting or graphic. Thanks for your time!

Peter Vronsy’s Book “Serial Killers: The Method & Madness of Monsters” at Alibris.com

TruTV’s website

Serial Killer Crime Index

Crime Magazine

All About Forensic Psychology

Also, there are about a gazillion books out there about them. Have fun!

So You Want To Write About...

A quick note about these posts. There’s nothing worse for me than reading a wonderful book and then being thrown right back out of it into reality by some glaring mistake or inconsistency. These blogs are an attempt at keeping that from happening. A quick overview of facts about a given subject, you can just read down the list and make sure you’ve got it right!

I know that I can’t even come close to getting all the facts on all these subjects. Because of this, I am trying to avoid including things that are extremely obvious, as well as things that are too esoteric. If I miss anything important, feel free to leave a comment. It is my hope that between myself and the people who read the blog, we can cover the bases.

Why I do what I do

Just a little note to explain myself. When I was seventeen, I had a serious hammock accident. I know that sounds like a joke, but it isn‘t. While laying on a hammock, the cinderblock wall it was attached to collapsed. Don’t worry about the wall, I broke it’s fall with my head. Anyway, due to the nifty Traumatic Brain Injury which resulted from this, I can’t retain information the way most people do.

In order to deal with this, I have learned to become slightly obsessive about the way I collect, store, & organize information. I can research to my heart’s content, but unless I put it in some permanent place neatly, it falls back out of my head.

Enter my fact sheets. It hadn’t occurred to me until recently that they might be helpful to anyone besides me, but I seem to be decent at taking huge amounts of information and distilling it down to the basics. Since I was doing this anyway, it would be great if it served another purpose!

So that’s my story. Thanks for listening.

M.C. Peery

Welcome to Just The Facts Ma'am!

My name is M.C. Peery, and I love to do research. Sounds like a 12-step program, doesn’t it? Researchers Anonymous. Well, I may need an intervention, but instead I'm posting all the miscellaneous information I’ve collected on here in the hope that it may help somebody. Who needs access to random information collected into one place and boiled down to the basics? Writers! Of course, anyone who wants to can use this site. Think of it as research cliff’s notes.

To clarify: My intention here is not to provide the ultimate research guide on anything. This blog is about providing easy access to the basics of any given subject. So if you are planning to write a book about the ins and outs of military rank systems, this is not the place for you. There are plenty of exhaustive treatises on that and just about any other subject under the sun out there, so go find them. That’s not what I do.

I welcome comments, criticisms, and requests. Although I can not promise anything, it is my hope that as time goes on your input will make this site even more of a resource. Meanwhile, I’ll do my best to keep it interesting and up to date!

Thanks for stopping by,

M.C. Peery