writing – Mark Bruce, Writer

The Villian Explains

One of the mystery writing tropes which drives me nuts is the moment in a book where the villain feels compelled to explain everything he’s done. Usually this happens when the protagonist is helpless, at the complete mercy of the bad guy. The protagonist often says something like, “I guess you’ve been very clever inContinue reading “The Villian Explains”

Conventional Wisdom

I have returned from the Killer Nashville convention in Franklin, Tennessee. I was nominated, for the third year in a row, for a Claymore Award (given to an unpublished manuscript). For the third year I went down to defeat. Sigh. But awards are unpredictable. Last year my comic novel, “The Return of Edsel Eddie,” lostContinue reading “Conventional Wisdom”

Stinky Humans

“You’re wrong about humans. Yeah, they may be stinky, greedy, stupid, foolish, dangerous and…uh, what was I saying?” “That humans are stinky.” “Yeah, they’re the worst…” That bit of dialogue has never found its way into one of my stories, but I think about humanity and all its perfidy quite often. As a mystery writer,Continue reading “Stinky Humans”

Writing It Out

I recently broke my writer’s block. I did it by writing. Which is like saying, I got over my fear of heights by going on the high dive, I got rid of my unemployment by going back to work, I got rid of my lethargy by deciding to exercise. I mean, of course the wayContinue reading “Writing It Out”

Wise Words by Accident

My son’s mother and I talk every Saturday night to keep up on the boy–who is now 31 years old–and to talk to one another about our sad, sad lives. We discussed why we both seemed to enjoy our solitude a little too much when I said something unusally wise: “We live the lives weContinue reading “Wise Words by Accident”

Bustin’ It With Ernie H.

Late on a Sunday night and I am writing in my journal at the kitchen table. I have just finished “The Sun Also Rises,” the debut novel by Ernest Hemingway which caused such a stir back in 1926. But I was not imressed. A bearded, ghostly presence is at my shoulder. And he is notContinue reading “Bustin’ It With Ernie H.”