A much-needed resource, The Grim Reader details how to write medical scenarios that result in realistic page-turners. As drug inaccuracies multiply in screenplays, scripts, novels, and audio plays, Dr. Miffie Seideman, Pharm.D. provides writers (and editors) with the background and authenticity necessary to develop plausible plotlines.
Goodreads Review:
There are so many things to love about this writer resource. For each class of drugs, there is insightful information about the street names, how the drugs might make someone feel, and how long the effects of the drug last for. Throughout the book, there are also writing exercises and prompts, designed to make you think about how your characters might show signs of the various drugs’ influence.
But it’s not just the narcotics that are discussed. You will also find chapters dedicated to alcohol, antidepressants, and antihistamines. And for a bit of added reading pleasure (and some world-building fun), the history of each class of drugs is also presented.
Seriously, this is a resource that I highly recommend that writers add to their bookshelves.
Many authors draw from headlines or movies rather than personal experience to write drug-related scenes, and the result may be more fiction than fact. So, how can you craft a convincing scene involving accidental use of fentanyl-tainted pot or a murder attempt with grandma’s pain pills?
A much-needed resource, The Grim Reader details how to write medical scenarios that result in realistic page-turners. As drug inaccuracies multiply in screenplays, scripts, novels, and audio plays, Dr. Miffie Seideman, Pharm.D. provides writers (and editors) with the background and authenticity necessary to develop plausible plotlines, including:
• Pertinent drug facts, tips, and symptoms
• Symptom timelines
• Tips for developing historically accurate scenes
• Common street drug names and slang
• Sample scenarios to demonstrate how to weave the information into a believable scene
• Writing prompts to provide scene starters and offer practice
Combining Seideman’s pharmacology knowledge with her love for creative writing, The Grim Reader is the ultimate guide to help authors craft accurate drug scenes and avoid medical mistakes.