NEW from Killer Nashville University. Learn more about the Various Routes to Publishing here: killernashvilleuniversity.com/audio-resour...

NEW from Killer Nashville University. Listen to How to Create an Audiobook here: killernashvilleuniversity.com/audio-resour...

New from Killer Nashville University! Listen here: killernashvilleuniversity.com/audio-resour...

The Balanced Writer is now Killer Nashville University! A new hub for writers, inspired by the Killer Nashville Conference. Join us for keynotes, workshops & resources to elevate your craft. Learn more: killernashvilleuniversity.com

👻 NEW from The Balanced Writer! 👻 Murder Most Ghostly — Paranormal mystery writers reveal what makes a story truly otherworldly, how to keep the genre fresh, and the challenges of writing beyond reality. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

🚨 NEW from The Balanced Writer! 🚨 Crime Goes Visual — Writers and artists dive into the world of crime and mystery graphic novels, exploring how words and art collide to create gripping stories. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

🚨 NEW from The Balanced Writer 🚨 “Serial Killers” dives into the minds of authors drawn to the darkest characters. Why they write them, how they define them, and what makes a killer tick in fiction. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

🚨 NEW from The Balanced Writer! 🚨 🇨🇦 “O Canada” — Author Robin Spano dives into Canadian identity, breaking down stereotypes and confronting the country’s darker truths with fellow writers. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

🚨 NEW from The Balanced Writer! 🚨 "Heroes & Villains" is here! 🎭 Mark Billingham leads a dynamic convo with four authors on the characters they love, hate, and love to hate. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

NEW from The Balanced Writer! Murder in the Windy City: Authors with Chicago-set crime novels dig into why place matters in fiction—and why Chicago is the perfect backdrop for murder. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

NEW on The Balanced Writer: “Order in the Court” dives into the minds of authors who’ve practiced law and now write about it. Discover how their legal careers shape their storytelling. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter

NEW from The Balanced Writer: John Lutz sits down with Les Roberts for this insightful interview. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #thebalancedwriter #claystafford #WritingCommunity

🚨 NEW from The Balanced Writer! 🚨 "Men from Mars, Women from Venus: Authors discuss writing from the opposite sex." Clay Stafford brings you a lively, eye-opening convo you don’t want to miss. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter

NEW from The Balanced Writer! Girls just want to have mystery-filled fun—this time in a Family Feud-style game where authors go head-to-head with clues, twists, and plenty of laughs. Clay Stafford presents… a playful take on the art of suspense. thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

✨ NEW from The Balanced Writer ✨ Mystery authors share the inspirations that shaped their stories—what they’ve “breathed in” and turned into unforgettable fiction. Clay Stafford Presents: The Balanced Writer 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

📚 NEW from The Balanced Writer: Wolfe at the Door explores Rex Stout’s lasting legacy. Hear how today’s authors are inspired by the creator of Nero Wolfe. 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter

In the newest installment of Andi Kopek's "Flaneuring Through a Writer’s Mind" series, learn to brave the many different flavors of rejection. To read more, visit www.killernashville.com/articles/bet... #killernashville #writingtips #writinginspo

The 2025 Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalists have been announced! Congratulations to all the finalists. View all the finalists here: www.killernashville.com/claymore-awa...

📚 NEW: The Balanced Writer is out now! In this edition, we sit down with five literary agents for a candid chat about the publishing world. Don’t miss Not So Secret Agents! Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

NEW from The Balanced Writer: Paranormal authors share why witches, ghosts & vampires are hotter than ever—and how they started writing in the genre. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter #ParanormalBooks #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity

🎬 NEW from The Balanced Writer: Mysteries & the Movies What’s it really like to see your characters on the big screen? Authors dish on their experiences in Hollywood and the journey from page to production. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter

The 2025 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award Finalists have been announced. Congratulations to all the finalists! www.killernashville.com/2025-silver-...

🧵🔍 New from The Balanced Writer: “Those Crafty Sleuths” Cozy mystery writers chat about giving their sleuths hands-on hobbies—from quilting to woodworking—and how crafts add character (and clues). Check it out: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #CozyMystery #CraftySleuths #TheBalancedWriter

🍳 NEW: The Balanced Writer “Cooking Up a Mystery” brings you culinary authors' tastiest takes on crime—complete with “recipes for murder.” Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter #MysteryWriters #CulinaryMystery #FictionWithFlavor

🕵️‍♂️ Mystery Matures just dropped on The Balanced Writer! Why are older sleuths having a moment? This panel digs into what makes senior protagonists so compelling in crime fiction. 🎙️ Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter #SeniorSleuths #CrimeFiction

New from The Balanced Writer 🎙️ Have Gun Will Murder Why do some writers choose murder as their muse? This panel digs into what drives crime fiction creators—and how they make a career out of it. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #WritingLife #CrimeFiction #TheBalancedWriter

🎙️ New on The Balanced Writer: "50 Shades of Cozy" Think cozy mysteries are all tea and cats? These four authors say think again. Their books may look soft—but the stories go dark. Listen in: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #CozyMystery #BookChat #AmWriting #CrimeFiction #AuthorTalk

🖊️ NEW episode of The Balanced Writer is live: Murder in the Headlines True crime authors unpack the weight of writing real stories about real criminals—and the headlines that shaped them. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TrueCrime #CrimeWriters #TheBalancedWriter

New from The Balanced Writer 📚 Four authors talk about making the shift from adult fiction to YA—and why the genre is thriving. Check it out: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter #YAbooks #WritingCommunity #AmWriting

NEW from The Balanced Writer 🎧 Mystery authors talk about giving their characters jobs that aren’t detectives — and how they made them real. From lifeguards to locksmiths, it’s all in the details. Listen here 👉 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

📚 NEW from The Balanced Writer! Mystery Southern Style 🌾🕵️‍♀️ What makes a Southern mystery Southern? A panel of authors digs into voice, place, and that unmistakable Southern storytelling charm. Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #TheBalancedWriter #SouthernMystery

NEW from The Balanced Writer Mystery’s Best Friends is a must-listen for mystery fans & writers! Hear authors dive into the joys + challenges of featuring cats & dogs as lead characters. 🎧 Listen: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #AmWriting #MysteryWriters

🎧 New from The Balanced Writer Writers talk “the zone,” their daily routines, and how they keep the words flowing. thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

🎧 Starting From Where You Are — NYT bestselling author Lisa Black shares her crime writing journey, introduced by Clay Stafford. #WritingLife #CrimeFiction #AuthorJourney #KillerNashville 🔗 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

New ep of The Balanced Writer 🎧 Author Baron Birtcher talks self-belief—and pushing beyond what you think you're capable of. Listen here 👉 thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #TheBalancedWriter

If your story’s stuck, maybe it’s not the plot—it’s your purpose. I wrote a piece on why your original “why” may be the key to unlocking your next scene. claystafford.com/blog/why-you...

🎧 New drop from The Balanced Writer Author John DeDakis breaks down how to write your novel—from big-picture planning to scene-level storytelling. A must-listen for writers at any stage. 🎙️ Presented by Clay Stafford Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #AmWriting #WritingAdvice

New from The Balanced Writer: 🚨 "Armed in America" dives into how felons & cartels get their guns—told by a former ATF agent with 25+ years of insight. A sharp look at the dark side of the gun trade. 🔗 Read here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #ATF #TheBalancedWriter #ClayStafford

Rewrote the first chapter of my new book—for the sixth time. Not failure, just growth. I shared the behind-the-scenes lesson here: claystafford.squarespace.com/blog/why-i-r... #WritingTips #SuccessPoints #AmWriting

Go inside the mind of thriller author J.T. Ellison in this interview/workshop! She shares writing advice, answers audience questions & talks about her books. A must for writers. Watch here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #AmWriting #ThrillerWriters #WritersOfBluesky

Story stalled on page one? The issue may not be your plot—it might be how your protagonist enters the scene. A strong first impression sets the tone for everything that follows. Here's something I wrote that might help. claystafford.squarespace.com/blog/craftin...

Publishing a book? 📚 Publicist Elysse Wagner of Books Forward shares key tips to boost your publicity game. From networking to strategy—don’t miss this advice. thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

📚 New on The Balanced Writer! B. Alan Bourgeois shares smart marketing strategies for authors. A must-listen for anyone trying to grow their reach. Presented by Clay Stafford. 🎧 Listen here: thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #AuthorMarketing #TheBalancedWriter

If your scene feels flat, it might not need more action but a clock. In today’s Success Point, I share how deadlines drive drama, deepen stakes, and move the story forward. claystafford.squarespace.com/blog/deadlin... #WritingTips #ClayStafford

NEW from The Balanced Writer! A panel on writing suspenseful novels—learn how to beat the “shaggy middle” and keep readers hooked. Presented by Clay Stafford. #amwriting #suspense #writingtips thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour...

This week I got to have a conversation with bestselling author David Handler on how characters come first in his mystery novels and more. Read the full conversation here: www.writersdigest.com/a-conversati...

The right title isn’t found—it’s earned. Here’s how clarity, curiosity, and tone help shape a title that reflects the promise of your story. claystafford.squarespace.com/blog/the-ana... #WritingTips #BookTitles #ClayStafford

New from The Balanced Writer! Baron Birtcher leads a panel on crafting unforgettable characters. Learn what it takes to bring your story to life. Presented by Clay Stafford. thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #WritingTips #AmWriting #CharacterDevelopment #TheBalancedWriter

If your setting feels flat, it’s because it’s missing movement. Don’t just write the land—write the wind. Today’s blog shows you how to bring your setting to life. claystafford.squarespace.com/blog/writing... #WritingTips #ClayStafford #Appalachia #SuccessPoint

🔍 Writing Female Crime Solvers (2021) — Carmen Amato, Ellie Andrews Pat & Roger Johns on creating women leads shaped by trauma, justice & grit. A sharp look into crime fiction writing. thebalancedwriter.com/audio-resour... #CrimeFiction #WomenWriters