Writing Tips, Workshops, and Inspiration from Bestselling Authors

Use Nonverbals To Add Dimension To Your Scenes by Dr. Katherine Ramsland At “The Write Stuff” conference, editor and author Tiffany Yates Martin discussed using “nonverbals” to add more dimension to our scenes. She explained that a vast amount of communication can occur beyond the dialogue. Demeanor, expression, body language, silences, and gestures, when used effectively, can provide a vivid sense of the characters and their interactions. To demonstrate, she played a clip fr

Best-selling Author and Outlier instructor Shirley Jump sat down with Terry Shepherd and Jennifer Dornbush in the Outliers Studio at Bouchercon 2025 in New Orleans for a lively and fun chat. @shirleyjump WATCH: Outliers YouTube Channel: GET TO KNOW: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLia8l2DJ_EnXVqej3dnFj-48RJetAYpcl LISTEN: Outliers Podcast Series On Your Favorite Outlet: https://www.outlierswritinguniversity.com/shows

What's a Psychological Autopsy? By Dr. Katherine Ramsland When a manner of death cannot be clearly identified as natural, accident, suicide or homicide, police might seek a mental health expert's help. With a psychological autopsy, they will evaluate the likelihood that a decedent's mental state aligns with known factors for suicide in order to rule it in or out. They might also suggest ideas for a deeper investigation. I have done this for coroners and cops, and I provide de

OUTLIERS MEDICAL-FORENSIC FILES: Alice in Wonderland Syndrome by DP Lyle, MD What Drugs Might Cause Side Effects in My Character With Alice in Wonderland Syndrome? Q: I have a question about Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) My character is in his mid-30s. From what I've gathered from reading this syndrome, it is fairly common with children and with migraine sufferers and it is controllable. However, I want my character to have side-effects. In other words, even though hi

OUTLIERS ONE MORE THING: The Power of Delusion by Jenny Milchman When I am writing a new novel, I always suffer from a perseverative delusion. Except that suffer is really the wrong word because this is a delusion of the most blissful order. It’s that I am writing the world’s first perfect first draft. Now, we all know this is impossible, right? Even I know it’s impossible–and I’m the one suffering from it! Still, the delusion persists. Over the course of six (soon to be sev

OUTLIERS PSYCHOLOGY AND WRITING: Your Inner Muse by Katherine Ramsland, Ph.D. Welcome to my column on how psychology and writing interact. I’ve been writing and publishing since the 1980s. Initially, it was for academics. Then in 1991, I published a commercial book, Anne Rice’s biography. Over the years, I’ve shifted between these frames, adding fiction and learning much about the writing process. In this column, I’ll offer tips for your work from clinical, cognitive and fore

OUTLIERS MEDICAL-FORENSIC FILES: Congenital Heart Disease by DP Lyle, MD What Congenital Heart Defect Might My Female Family Members Suffer From? Q: I'm trying to construct a family of women who have a congenital heart defect. The mother has died from it. The older sister dies as the book begins. The middle sister is suffering, and her imminent death is part of the plot. (She's 18). What I'd like is for her to be treated by surgery, but a surgery the poor girl can't affor

OUTLIERS ONE MORE THING: It’s All in the Name by DP Lyle News flash—characters need names. Not just any old name, but their name. It has to fit. It’s personal. If you mis-name a character, they’ll fuss at you until you fix it. Usually in the middle of the night. Has this ever happened to you? You finish your first draft and dive into the initial rewrite. Where you meet Martha, Who the hell is Martha? There’s no Martha in this story. After a bit of digging around you remember