Judy Richter

There is so much craft to learn when writing a debut novel, it’s sometimes hard to see the forest for the trees. Should I ignore all that noise and disruptivity and write my story, my way, from the heart? Or, should I listen to all the published writers and the experts who made their dreams of getting published a reality?

On my long and arduous journey to tell my story of a home invasion in Costa Rica, I have done both, to the point of maximum frustration. One obstacle I encountered was my desire to feature two POV’s, one Costa Rican and one American. Alarm bells sounded with many of the pros I talked to, advising me against writing in the POV of a Costa Rican male detective. However, I have stubbornly held my ground to better explore the complexities of the massive influx of expatriates into this once serene country. I mean, how many male writers write in the voice of a woman without objection? I did heed the warnings, however, and am soliciting Costa Rican sensitivity readers to make sure I don’t misrepresent anything, no matter how small the detail. 

That hurdle behind me, now my dilemma is managing the two POV’s, which can be tricky. It became overwhelming to maintain the appropriate balance while keeping the story on course and true to its premise. 

Then it hit me! I needed a Murder Board, where I can track the entire story by looking at a whiteboard (well, in my case, two). Color-coding the POV’s was brilliant, and, as a major bonus, I could review the entire manuscript without having to scroll through 350 pages, page by ever-lovin’ page, on a computer monitor. 

Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce:

 THE MURDER BOARD!! 

(Snakes and iguanas optional)