THIN MOTIVES by Steven Steinbock Last week I got to talking with you about character motivation. Knowing that this would be a busy week, I’d planned on sending the Criminal Brief Managing Editor a fun but fluffy column about words. But fluff and light will have to wait. The subject of motivation has remained with […]

WHAT’S DRIVING MISS DAISY? by Steven Steinbock There are days – most days in fact – when I have a hard time getting motivated with my writing. I may be running low on fuel, or in need of a tune up. Some of my pistons may not be firing. Sometimes I forget to set my […]

LINGUISTICS FROM THE DENTIST’S CHAIR by Steven Steinbock They say the eye is the window to the soul. If so, then what is the eye tooth a window into? Right now I have an open window where my eye tooth was a day and a half ago. This Wednesday I was sitting in a periodontist’s […]

CHOICE WORDS by Steven Steinbock Not long ago I had the pleasure of reading a paperback original science fiction novel from 1964. The book wasn’t bad. It was a decent story despite numerous fairly deep plot holes. The author was clearly having enough fun writing the book that he didn’t care that it was imperfect. […]

WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? by Steven Steinbock I’m still basking in the glow of my first short story publication. It spurred me on to start another story. I’m off to what I feel is a really good start, but I have no idea where I’m going with it. That’s an awkward state for […]

TWO-FACED by Steve Steinbock One of the earliest aphorisms I ever remember learning as a small child is “Look Both Ways Before Crossing.” Is that an aphorism? Perhaps it’s more of a dictum. But I like the word aphorism better. “Look Both Ways” can be applied to all sorts of experiences, not just crossing streets. […]

CEREAL MURDERS by Steve Steinbock Some very good novels – and even a few short stories – have been written about serial killers. It’s a subgenre that’s been done, done well, and sadly overdone. I’m not going to talk about that kind of serial killing this week. I’ve had a few interesting reading experiences in […]