KN Magazine: Articles
Headcase: How To Avoid Eye Strain, Headaches, and Pulling Your Hair Out
Writers spend countless hours at desks, often ignoring the physical and mental toll that sustained focus can take on the body. In “Headcase,” Mary Lynn Cloghesy and Jason Schembri explore how eye strain, tension headaches, and “Tech Neck” are connected through the body’s fascial system, while also addressing the emotional pressures writers face from rejection, criticism, and creative blocks. The article offers practical strategies to protect both body and mind so writers can sustain a healthy creative life.
Literary Alchemy: Ingredients of the Story – Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s craft, planting subtle clues that build suspense, deepen theme, and create satisfying payoffs. In this installment of Literary Alchemy, Chrissy Hicks breaks down how to use foreshadowing effectively—through dialogue, setting, symbolism, and character action—so readers stay engaged and every twist feels earned.
Drop the Pen! What Every Writer Should Know About Real Police Work: Ten Codes
A practical, candid look at police ten-codes—what they are, why they exist, how inconsistently they’re used, and why writers should approach them with caution when striving for authenticity in crime and thriller fiction.
This Crazy Writing Life: Requiescat in pace—In Memory Of The Mass-Market Paperback
A thoughtful, firsthand obituary for the mass-market paperback—once the backbone of American reading culture—examining its rise, decline, and legacy, while exploring what its death means for writers, publishers, and the future of storytelling.
Between Pen and Paper: Flaneuring Through a Writer’s Mind – Why the Inescapable Laws of Nature Matter to Storytellers
A reflective and science-grounded craft essay exploring why the immutable laws of nature—from gravity and thermodynamics to planetary tilt and chemistry—matter deeply to storytellers. Blending cosmology, science fiction, philosophy, and creative practice, Andi Kopek invites writers to see the universe itself as a co-author in building believable, resonant worlds.
Drop the Pen!: What Every Writer Should Know About Real Police Work: Handcuffs
A practical, behind-the-scenes guide to how real police officers apply, manage, and think about handcuffs—dispelling Hollywood myths and giving writers accurate insight into procedure, safety, pain, and the constitutional considerations behind restraint.
Flying Solo: On Finding Success As a Writer Without the Help of an Agent
Anna Scotti offers an honest, witty, and motivating look at what it means to build a career as a writer without an agent. From realistic expectations about advances to insider strategies for publishing with indie presses, entering contests, managing submissions, and promoting your own work, she shows how many authors thrive while “flying solo”—and how you can, too.
Drop the Pen! What Every Writer Should Know About Real Police Work: Traffic Stops, Part Two
In this follow-up to last month’s article, former detective David Lane Williams takes writers deeper into the world of real police work. From the nuances of reasonable suspicion to the tactics of safe vehicle approaches, Williams explains the legal, procedural, and tactical realities behind every traffic stop—helping crime and mystery writers bring authenticity and accuracy to their fiction.
This Crazy Writing Life Performs Killer Nashville Post Mortems
In This Crazy Writing Life, Steven Womack reflects on the energy, community, and evolution of the Killer Nashville conference. With humor and honesty, he shares insights into the changing landscape of mystery and crime writing, the importance of connection in a writer’s life, and why building relationships—not just networks—remains at the heart of every successful writing journey.
This Crazy Writing Life: Some Random Reflections On The Reality of This Crazy Writing Life
In this candid and insightful column, Steven Womack dives deep into the overwhelming realities of the publishing world—from sobering statistics to the evolution of indie publishing. With wit and honesty, he unpacks the frustrations, surprises, and small victories that come with living this crazy writing life.
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