I’m author J.F. Freedman. Most of my novels are thrillers, legal and detective/police procedurals. I’m also a television and film writer, director, and producer. I’m here to talk fiction writing and my publishing experiences, along with stories from my days in the television and film business. AMA.

[u/jffreedman]

I’m a New York Times best-selling novelist who has been published in over twenty countries world-wide. my most recent novel, The Deer Killer, is now available via Amazon on Kindle and in paperback. I have received rave accolades from The New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Library Journal, and from such authors as Stephen King, Dorothy Allison, Larry Brown, and Robert Parker. I’m also an award-winning writer, producer, and director of over twenty theatrical and television movies, as well as The X-Files, MacGyver, and many other television series.

Proof: /img/aaih24u2a5n51.jpg

[u/joshwa]

Your books seem really well researched; the places really come alive, and the details about legal issues and other matters seem very accurate to real life. How do you do this research? Are these all places and topics you already know a lot about or do you have a method for learning about them as you're writing?

[u/jffreedman → u/joshwa]

I love this kind of question. Yes, I research, not only via the Internet, but by talking to a lot of different people. Again, in The Deer Killer, I had extensive communications with members of the Santa Fe NM sheriff's department, the former Santa Fe DA, several defense lawyers, the chief manager of a U.S. congressperson, an FBI computer expert, and lots of others. I also spend as much time as I can at the physical places where I'm setting the story. Most of my books are set in places I've lived or have travelled a lot in.

[u/Ezthy → u/jffreedman]

When you’re doing this kind of research (IE. reaching out and explaining you’re an author, looking to write a novel along such and such lines - and would like their help / commentary) - do you find they are usually very forthcoming and willing to help / have conversations about the subject with you ? As a new author - do you think it would be more tough to get folks like that to help ?

[u/draco-joe]

I am currently running a Dungeons and Dragons quest involving a murder mystery, and as I was running it I realized that I may have built the crime to be solvable by someone with actual investigative experience rather than a band of normal people playing detective. Despite all the clues and information provided, the full picture isn't clear until the final confrontation with the killer. The evidence provided showed a lot of Who and How, but the players couldn't figure out the Why; like having all the puzzle pieces but not seeing the picture they make until the climax and direct dialogue with the killer.

My question is: if your investigator hits a wall in their capability to solve a crime, should I deploy Ex Machina to drop new evidence in their lap to give them an out to move forward, or is there another technique that doesn't involve cheap writing tricks or undermine the investigation process by eventually spoon-feeding them the solution and losing the suspension of disbelief?

I write fiction mostly as a personal hobby, but this is my first time DMing and I'm having some growing pains writing for characters that possess free will lol.

[u/jffreedman → u/draco-joe]

you're overthinking this. you're the writer, your the creator, make a decision and go with it.

I can't give you advise on the Dungeons and Dragons part of your question because I don't work that way, sorry.

[u/draco-joe → u/jffreedman]

You're right. I'm trying too hard to control and I should just let it play out. It's not your forte, but you're advice was still helpful. Thank you.

[u/fredlosthishead → u/jffreedman]

“Ask me anything but how to DM. You gotta work for that shit.”

[u/joshwa]

Why did you switch from writing screenplays to writing novels? Is the process really different? Any advice for making the switch?

[u/WriterDave]

I'm a screenwriter (credited, although not as impressively as you) who just finished my first fiction novel.

Any advice as I embark on the search for a lit agent to represent the book? Thanks in advance!

[u/Pixxel_Wizzard]

Why don't editors help authors fix basic mistakes? For example, I'm reading a novel now that is fairly well written, but the author tags every single line of dialogue, no matter how obvious it is who is talking. Makes interrogation scenes and the like so exhausting. Why wouldn't an editor say something about that? Isn't that there job? What kind of mistakes has your editor helped you avoid?

[u/a_reasonable_thought]

Where do you look for inspiration when writing your stories?

[u/SlayerofSnails]

What’s been your favorite project to work on?

[u/eccentric-assassin]

What is the most challenging character for you to write? What do you do to overcome these difficulties?

[u/zeussays]

When you are approaching beginning a novel, whats your process before you get to page one? Where do you begin and how do you flush out your worlds?

[u/redgrognard]

1. what genre do you read for entertainment? Specific author/series?

2. Other than yourself, who gives you the most critiques?

3. Boxers or Briefs?

4. You + desert island + 5 books: what are they?