Did you know there’s only one county in America that calls the grass between the street and sidewalk the devil’s strip? Neither did Bri until she went down a research rabbit hole into forensic linguists for a thriller project. She and Mer discuss where to start with research; finding the right balance between authenticity and bogging down the plot; and how to know when to put down the book and pick up the pen. Come for the advice on the best sources and stay for the (brief and rare) rant on how AI is ruining Bri’s life.

Books mentioned

BAD WORDS, Rioghnach Robinson

MADELINE MCKNIGHT SIGNS OFF, Evan Brooke

FLYWEIGHT, Courtney Ellis

You know the famous first line, but did you also know Pride & Prejudice has a killer entire first chapter, which is almost entirely dialogue? Bri and Mer use Jane’s brilliance to chat about all the ways dialogue can be used to convey setting, stakes, personality and character dynamics when done well. They also give their hot take on eavesdropping at coffeeshops and dole out advice about when to use adverbs in dialogue tags. Come for Mer’s theatrical turn as Mrs. Bennett and stay to find out what Leonardo DiCaprio’s love of pasta has anything to do with it.

*If you'd like to read the first scene in Pride and Prejudice, check it out here!

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1342/pg1342-images.html#Chapter_I

Book Recs!

Black Bag by Luke Kennard

The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley

Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena

How To Write a Murder by Jessica Brody

Could these references be any more millennial? Bri and Mer chat about how to add stakes–low and high–to your manuscript, how to make zany set-ups feel important, and how knowing your characters makes it all so much easier. Come for the advice about creating ticking clocks in the plot and stay for us gushing over How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

Books Discussed

Ravenous by Sara Cooper

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury