WRITING A MYSTERY IS LIKE DIETING by J.L. Greger


Before you say no, think about this standard advice to dieters.

1. Set realistic priorities. You are more apt to attain small achievable goals (such as losing a pound a week or writing a page a day) than larger goals with artificial deadlines (for example losing fifty pounds before your class reunion or writing a three hundred-page novel by Christmas).

2. Control problems and distractions. For writers, the distractions on the Internet are comparable to high fat, sugary foods to dieters. Perhaps this advice from Murder… A Way to Lose Weight will help you sort through your clutter.

“There are three types of problems. A few problems are like wine. Those situations improve if you delay decisions and let them age. Most problems are like waste paper. You can ignore them because they don’t matter. Unfortunately like waste paper, they tend to be messy when they pile up. And some problems are like manure. You must identify them quickly before they stink.”

3. Be prepared for hard work everyday. Most successful dieters have changed their lifestyle and eaten less and exercised more for months. If you want to write a novel a year, set aside time to work on your book every day.

4. Sweat the small stuff. Little bedtime snacks can undo our good behavior at meals or in the gym. Similarly grammar and spelling errors can ruin a novel with a great plot and characters.

5. Laugh at all those who give advice like this because you know it’s easier to give advice than follow it.

If you like this blog, maybe you’ll like my mystery, Murder…A Way to Lose Weight. See whether you can catch the murderer in the medical school before the heroine, Linda Almquist does. It could be an ambitious young “diet doctor” or old-timers, including the Dean of the Medical School, who want to keep their secrets buried.

Get the paperback version of Murder…A Way to Lose Weight from Amazon: http://amzn.com/1610092392. The Kindle and Nook version should be available by late May.

Reviews:
Linda Almquist has the worst job on campus. She’s an Associate Dean, a temporary appointment. If good things happen, the Dean gets the credit. If something bad happens, it’s her fault. And something bad has happened. Izzy Roth, a research associate, lies dead on the floor of her office, and detectives from the Violent Crimes Division are asking questions.

J. L. Greger has created a page-turner of a novel with well-formed characters in a believable setting. You’ll find the Medical School faculty to be the group you might encounter in any office, anyplace, and especially on a college campus. Dac Crossley, professor & author

Being a constant dieter and someone who tries every new diet fad on the market, the topic of overlooking ill effects of a diet product during scientific testing struck a chilling chord in me. The plot is unique and compelling, and although I am not a "science" person, the science part of the mystery was so well portrayed I had no problem understanding it.
Holli Costillo, lawyer & author

The Featured Book of the Moment at Venture Galleries on April 21: http://bit.ly/1SvALAG.


Bio: The author J. L. Greger, is a biologist and research administrator turned novelist. Her other novels are international thrillers—I Saw You in Beirut, Coming Flu, Ignore the Pain and Malignancy (winner of 2015 Public Safety Writers’ annual contest). To learn more, see her website: 

http://www.jlgreger.com or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/janet.greger.3



Comments

Amy M. Bennett said…
So true, Janet--though I'm much more disciplined at writing than I am at dieting (something about having chocolate at hand when the writing isn't flowing... and when it IS flowing... and when I'm just thinking about writing....)
This was a good post, Janet! Thank you for coming to visit!
J. L. Greger said…
Thank you for hosting me, Marilyn. It's always an honor to be here. I thought I posted this yesterday but did something wrong.
J. L. Greger said…
Amy,
The cookie crumbs around my computer attest to the fact I snack too much. Eating does help thinking???
Elaine Faber said…
I love analogies that compare something to life or what they learned from something in life. One comes to mind. 'Everything I needed to learn came from my cat!' Anytime there's a cat, that's a good thing. Why not comparing dieting and writing? I never diet, always being on the skinny side myself, but the idea of chocolate, whether to inspire writing or watching TV is always appealing.

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