A Published Writer

Yours truly here at Prosecutor's Discretion has his first short story published! I am extremely excited to be a part of Winter's Regret, by The Elephant's Bookshelf Press.

It's a much different feeling than being published in legal journals. In those journals you already have a conclusion and show everyone how to get to that conclusion through a legal analysis. In fiction, the characters make decisions that lead to an ending that they chose. I'm proud that my work was selected for the anthology, and also thrilled that it is alongside one of my writing buddies, Jeff O'Handley.

My identity in this blog is a loosely guarded secret, so if you purchase it you get the chance to figure out which story is mine. Where do I get my copy, you ask? Check out these links:

Smashwords

Amazon for the Kindle

Createspace

Happy reading.

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David Ogilvy's Tips to Improve Your Writing

I stumbled upon a man by the name of David Ogilvy.  He is said to be the father of advertising.  He was one of those 1950-1960 ad executives portrayed on television.  He sent this memo to his employees to try to improve their writing.  It was probably for his sake as the reader as much as for their sake as a writer.  You can find this and more from Ogilvy in an out of print edition of The Unpublished David Ogilvy.  

He says that good writing is not a natural gift and we must practice to write well.  That's reassuring to everyone, like me, who is striving to be a better writer.  Also, I wish people still used the word woolly.  See below.

The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People who think well, write well.

Woolly minded people write woolly memos, woolly letters and woolly speeches.

Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Here are 10 hints:

1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing (Writing That Works; How to Communicate Effectively In Business book). Read it three times.

2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.

3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.

4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.

5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.

6. Check your quotations.

7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.

8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.

9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.

10. If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.

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Your Reading List

A quick post today to let you know about some books you should be reading and people you should be following.  

Burke Strunsky is a senior deputy district attorney in Riverside California.  He has recently released a true crime book, detailing a few of the cases he has handled in his career.  It is called The Humanity of Justice.  Check out the website here.  Oh and not only is he a public servant, but 100% of the profits got to the Humanity of Justice Foundation.  The foundation is dedicated to helping the lives of abused and neglected children

Most of you might know Mark Pryor from D.A. Confidential.  A journalist turned prosecutor wrote a novel called The Bookseller.  It is due out on October 9, 2012, and has been receiving great reviews.  Check out the reviews, site, and pre-order here.  

Frequent contributor and crime and suspense novelist Lisa Regan has two books being released soon.  Finding Claire Fletcher will be available from Sapphire Star Publishing on December 6, 2012, and Aberration will be available on June 6, 2013.  Check out her site to pre-order and read about her journey to publication here.    

Congratulations to all three.  You'll be hearing more about these books once I'm able to read them. 

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