Category Archives: Maureen’s Posts

Some questions and answers for writers about how to get started

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Maureen Milliken

I was chatting with a neighbor the other day, and it turns out she’s been working on a book for several years, but is stuck and wondering where she can get support, information, resources, etc. In short, shes wanted to … Continue reading →

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When it comes to writing, or life, channel a little Bart Simpson

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Maureen Milliken

I’ve had an urge for quite a while to start an Instagram account that has photos of towns in Maine named after the world’s great cities. The idea of Athens, Rome, Vienna and more translated to tiny towns with dirt … Continue reading →

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Don’t be afraid of the nuts and bolts of writing

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Maureen Milliken

I was giving an author talk a couple years ago, answering the usual questions about my process, when I got an odd response: “Isn’t that cheating?” I was, if I remember right, describing how I used a big calendar to … Continue reading →

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The writing process: getting stuck on the detals

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Maureen Milliken

As we know, writers are frequently asked where they get their ideas. As we also know, and have discussed extensively on this blog, the answer is varied and endless. After years of being asked it, I have a fairly concise … Continue reading →

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A name by any other name would be a giant pain in the…

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Maureen Milliken

One aspect of writing that readers may not realize is a huge pain in the … um, neck, is naming characters. It seems like it would be an obvious and easy thing, doesn’t it? Certainly easier than figuring out a … Continue reading →

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And the best book adaptation for TV, hands down, EVER, is…

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Maureen Milliken

Sometime in the last couple of years — it’s hard to say when, it all blurs together now — I joked on this blog that I’m a “social distancing hobbiest.” Oh ha ha. So funny. Since then, whenever that was, … Continue reading →

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In praise of good long books

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Maureen Milliken

My town had by all accounts a very succesful community read this year — an event in which everyone (who wants to) reads the same book. A variety of discussions and events are built around it, and it lasts for … Continue reading →

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Maine Crime Writers have tree, will travel (to festival of trees)

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Maureen Milliken

Hi folks! We know you’re not used to seeing us on Sunday night, but we have some special news… As you know, we Maine Crime Writers are a festive bunch, so we jumped at the chance to provide a tree … Continue reading →

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Apply the Bechdel Test, with a twist, when you read, watch and write

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Maureen Milliken

I recently learned about the Bechdel Test for sexism in fiction. This is a way to gauge the level of sexism in a work by checking to see if it has a conversation between two women that isn’t about a … Continue reading →

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Setting is all around you, and it’s yours for the taking

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Maureen Milliken

Everyone who writes, or aspires to, understands the vital importance of setting. The great mystery writer Elizabeth George, in her book “Mastering the Process,” talks about how she really doubles down on it — going to areas she wants to … Continue reading →

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