Sam H Arnold: Articles

Kim Philby The Spy Who Stayed in the Shadows

Harold Adrian Russell Philby was an unknown face for many years. He hid in the shadows, spying for the Russians. He described himself as being born into “the ruling class of the British Empire…

5 months ago · 5 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

Five Classic Books Every Teenager Should Read

As a teacher who goes into a range of schools, I am always bemused that most of them pick the same three books to teach at GCSE level: A Christmas Carol, Macbeth, and An Inspector Calls…

5 months ago · 2 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

Using AI Without Losing Your Spark

Sam H Arnold — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:00:24 GMT

The first era of humankind was the land era. We fought over it, we travelled it, and we secured it as our own. Then came the time war, where television, theatres, and gyms competed for our attention.

This was followed by the attention era, with the rise of social media and applications that take us away from our families to stare at a little light box. Thankfully, we are now entering the perspective era, where we will carefully refine and curate what we consume and use.

This is precisely why, with the rise of AI, it is important to use it but not lose ourselves to it.

Think of the skills we have lost due to technological advancements. Our grandmothers could wash clothes by hand; few of us could now. If we allow AI to write every email for us, every sentence, we will lose those essential skills.

That is not to say AI is inherently bad. There are practical ways to use it that progress your writing without losing your spark.

How I Use AI

Unlike many people, I do not use ChatGPT; for me, Google Gemini is the better platform.

The majority of my AI use is in my teaching career rather than my writing. Now, I can bullet-point everything I want to teach in an hour and have it produce a brilliantly formatted lesson plan.

In addition, it can produce the diagrams, worksheets, and everything else I need for the lesson in a couple of minutes, something that would typically take me an hour or more. I can now concentrate on my teaching and let AI take care of the paperwork.

Within my writing life, there are fewer uses for it. I spoke last week about the concerns I have over it being my research partner, although I still ask it to compile a list of websites I can research from.

Once the article is written, AI becomes my editor. As with any of these platforms, I take everything with a pinch of salt and make my own decision. It is, however, brilliant at picking up typos, spelling, and grammar issues.

I then ask it to produce an image, giving it clear instructions as to what I would like included. This is a key benefit of Gemini: the image quality is so much higher. In my experience, ChatGPT does not seem to be able to follow basic instructions such as ‘do not include writing in the image.’

Finally, an area I believe Gemini excels in, I ask it to produce an SEO-optimised title and description to put into the metadata on Substack. Since I have used it for this, I have noticed that my read links include Google, whereas they never did before.

AI is meant to be a tool; it must not take over our writing and thinking processes. Saving time should be the primary goal of your AI use.

When writing my last book, Deadly and Feminine, I had many article links scattered throughout many pages. I put all of this into AI and asked it to remove the links from the whole book and create a bibliography. It took one minute. That is how AI should work for us, as that task would have taken me hours.

If you would like to read Deadly and Feminine, looking at the wonderful bibliography, you can download it as a paid subscriber to Murder Mayhem UK. This month, in celebration of Halloween, you can get a whole year’s subscription for only £1.50.

So, if you want to read a vast catalogue of crime articles, support my writing, and download five true crime books to read at your leisure, then click the link below.

Murder Mayhem UK Offer

Until next Saturday: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

The future of AI is not about replacing humans, it’s about augmenting human capabilities. — Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google

Articles

The Great Plague of London 1665

It is 1665 in London. The streets are filthy; people routinely open their windows and throw out their waste. Some of this is rubbish, some human waste. Reeking sewage runs down the middle of the road…

6 months ago · 6 likes · 7 comments · Sam H Arnold

Hitting the Reading Slump After Robin Hobb

As with many of us who read, we sometimes hit a slump, and that is what has happened to me this month. I have really struggled to settle on a book to read…

6 months ago · 1 like · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

AI as a Research Assistant

Sam H Arnold — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 13:01:45 GMT

My first attempt at AI research was a disaster. Early on, I discovered what a bad idea this was when it confused Reggie with Ronnie Kray. However, there is a far more serious reason why you should take everything AI says with a large pinch, or bucket, of salt.

That is because AI’s main source of information comes from Wikipedia, the site that you were told at school never to use as it was unreliable. It is not surprising it is so unreliable when anyone can write an article, and with 7 million articles, the company boasts only 600 administrators and 10 arbitrators.

There are also many who question the ethical nature of Wikipedia now, and whether it has political affiliations. Has it become manipulated by organisations and politicians?

The Wikipedia Bias

Wikipedia, founded in 2001, appeared at one point to move from an encyclopaedia to a social justice movement.

Around that time, an editor, sometimes referred to anonymously as “Mr X”, made a list of unreliable and reliable sources that could be used in Wikipedia articles. They were designated red and green. Green sources, considered reliable to be used, included CNN, Al Jazeera, the New York Times and the Post. Red sources are censored heavily and include papers such as the Daily Mail because it is considered too right-wing and conservative.

They are also not consistent with the rules. For example, they say you cannot name people before they are convicted, but Kyle Rittenhouse, who was a minor at the time, was named and shamed in several articles they allowed to be published.

They use two or three radical left sources which make wild quotes about a person. The reader would not necessarily pick up on this, but more concerningly, neither would AI. They take radical snippets and plant the seed of doubt.

Be honest: how often do you check the sources in a Wikipedia article? Neither does AI.

The problem is that a single questionable sentence is enough to make both AI and your readers doubt the entire narrative.

More Than Just Wikipedia

If you think the problem is limited to Wikipedia, think again.

The next biggest contributor of information is Reddit, where Sam Altman is one of the biggest shareholders. The very founder of AI.

Check it out for yourself. Ask ChatGPT to research a topic and see how many Wikipedia and Reddit articles it cites.

So, can you use AI as a research assistant?

If you want to check every source it gives you and every quote, then yes, go for it. Me? I prefer the quicker method of doing reliable research myself.

That is not to say that AI is awful for writers, because next week I will share with you how I do use AI and the time it saves me.

Until next Saturday: Find the time, find the words, find the way.

I’ve since learned relatability is everything - Matt Lillywhite

Articles

From Heiress to Revolutionary

Rose Dugdale was born into a life of privilege. She was a British heiress who was due to inherit a large fortune. However, this was not the life Dugdale dreamed for herself. She would give it all up …

7 months ago · 5 likes · 3 comments · Sam H Arnold

The Latest on Letby, the Sullivans, and the Menendez Brothers

There are many cases I cover where we have all the answers as to what happened and who was convicted. Some, though, haven’t reached their conclusion…

6 months ago · 1 like · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

Zibaldone vs Commonplace Books

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 06:39:10 GMT

I am a geek who loves notebooks. Not only do I love notebooks, but I also love learning about them—all the different types and where they originated.

Want to know what drives me mental? More mental than those annoying book stickers? When people mix up a zibaldone and a commonplace book.

What does it matter, you might ask? Honestly, it doesn’t. Call it a pet peeve. In my mind though, if you are making a YouTube video on the subject, you should at least get it right. I’m not mentioning names.

Mad scribblings is not a commonplace book, thank you very much. It’s a zibaldone.

These two very different beasts are lumped into the same bucket like they’re interchangeable. They’re not. They’re cousins at best. Possibly estranged ones.

Most people use the term commonplace book as a catch-all for any notebook with scraps of thoughts, clippings, quotes or random intellectual graffiti. But if you’re calling your chaotic dump of dreams, grocery lists, angry rants about your ex and half-finished poems a commonplace book. Hate to break it to you, but you’re running a zibaldone.

So What Is a Zibaldone?

Zibaldone is Italian for “a heap of things.” No joke. It’s a hodgepodge, a mess. But a beautiful, intimate mess. Think: mind-splatter on paper. No categories. No rigid structure. Just flow.

A zibaldone is personal. Often emotional or observational. A mix of notes, drafts, musings, receipts, letters, and dreams. It is beautiful in its disorder.

Famous examples include:

Giacomo Leopardi: Over 4,500 pages of thought. Philosophy, linguistics, literature, and depression. The man unloaded his soul onto the page.
Leonardo da Vinci: Okay, he never called his notebooks zibaldoni, but they are textbook examples of the form. Mechanical sketches next to grocery lists next to dissections of clouds. Brilliant chaos.
Umberto Eco: While more of a modern indexer, Eco’s private notebooks often resembled zibaldoni in content if not in name. Streams of notes on semiotics and soup recipes side by side.

What About a Commonplace Book?

Now this is something else entirely.

A commonplace book is a place of structure and purpose. It is a tool, not a diary. A curated collection. Think of it like a personal encyclopaedia. People kept them for study, memorisation and retrieval. Renaissance scholars, scientists and Enlightenment thinkers loved them. These weren’t journals. These were intellectual filing cabinets.

They are categorised by topic, sometimes indexed, sometimes cross-referenced. The goal is to make knowledge easier to access and reuse.

A commonplace book boasts an impressive collection of users:

John Locke: The poster boy for the commonplace system. He wrote instructions on how to organise one.
Thomas Jefferson: Had several. One was entirely dedicated to legal principles.
Virginia Woolf: Kept one while studying Greek.

So Which Are You Using?

Are you highlighting quotes for later and then putting them into subject-specific areas? Then you are using a commonplace book.

But if you are jotting down thoughts, dreams and using a catch-all approach, then you are keeping a zibaldone.

Too many writers and thinkers, especially in the digital age, throw all their creative offcuts into Notion or Evernote and call it a “digital commonplace book.” But let’s be honest, half of that stuff is raw zibaldone.

And that’s fine. But let’s call things by their true names.

So embrace the mess.

The best ideas come dressed as scribbles.

Until next week — remember, read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.

Sam 😊

I'm not writing it down to remember it later, I'm writing it down to remember it now. - Field Notes

Articles

The Brotherhood of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens

There’s something electric about a good partnership. I have it with my crime partner Edward Anderson. Two creative minds crash into each other and something bigger than them comes out of the wreckage. It’s rare. But when it happens, you get revolutions, not just stories. Think Lennon and McCartney, Hitchcock and Herrmann, and Dickens and Collins in Vict…

10 months ago · Sam H Arnold

The Night Coventry Burned During World War II

Jean Taylor had spent eleven hours crouching in the corner of a bomb shelter on Masser Road, surrounded by arguing adults and crying children. The air grew heavier with each passing minute, damp and …

10 months ago · 9 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

My Journalling Ecosystem

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 06:00:43 GMT

I spent all my time on holiday without an internet connection, can you imagine? However, once I calmed the kids down from being disconnected from their games and my niece, who was about to lose a Snapchat streak—don't ask; I have no idea—it was strangely liberating.

One of the things I did a lot of was writing and journaling using good old-fashioned pen and paper. I have also fallen down a YouTube rabbit hole of people showing you their journalling ecosystem, so I thought it was time I shared mine with you.

First, I want to say that all of these notebooks are for the writing side of my life. My tutoring business is run entirely digitally.

Everything Goes

This is a mini-notebook that fits in my pocket and gets typically battered. As you can see, I always try to stick one of my daughter's pictures on it to make it more personal. I also write quotes that grab me on the back cover.

This is mainly a catch-all place where I write anything from article ideas to to-do lists and shopping lists. It even sits on my bedside table for those random ideas at 2 a.m.

I also time-block in this and write down what I do in a day by the hour. It must be the crime writer in me, but I think it might be helpful one day to know exactly where I was on any day or time.

Travellers Notebook

I have three separate notebooks in this traveller's notebook. The first is my writing planner, which is the same as you would expect from any planner.

The second is my ideas notebook, where content ideas are jotted down and fleshed out.

The final notebook is my commonplace book. I am going to do a longer article on commonplace books, but in essence, it is where I store facts and quotes that interest me. These can be from books, articles or television. If they make me stop, then I write them down.

Personal Journalling

My final two books are traditional journals in which I record my thoughts, feelings and fun times with the family. I also write three things every day that I am grateful for, as well as any book thoughts and feelings I have. These are more personal observations, as quotes and analyses of the texts go into my commonplace book.

The last book is a sentence a day for five years and contains one highlight per day every year. Looking back on the previous days and seeing what my highlight was has been a lovely experience every day.

So, tell me in the comments how you journal. What is your process?

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

One thing that helps toward it is to keep a diary, or, at any rate, to keep some kind of record of one’s opinions about important events - George Orwell

My Brain's Best Friend

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 07:01:56 GMT

This week, where I left the house in a rush without my notebook. I missed it so much that it was one of the first things I bought from the first shop I went to.

Many of you who have subscribed for a while know I love a paper notebook for productivity, idea creation and mental clarity. Not a fancy, perfectly organised ones, but the kind that’s a glorious mess—half to-do list, half brainstorming session, with a few coffee stains for character. I call mine a catch-all notebook; it’s my brain’s best friend.

You know those moments when your mind is juggling a million things? Random ideas, things you need to remember, the title of that book someone recommended? If I don’t write them down immediately, they’re gone. That’s where my catch-all notebook saves me. It’s the one place where everything goes, no matter how big, small, or completely random.

I used to try keeping separate notebooks—one for work, one for personal stuff, one for ideas. But guess what? That just made me more disorganised because I could never remember which notebook had what. So, I ditched the system and embraced the chaos. Now, I have one notebook, and it holds everything.

One page might be a list of things I need to do. The next could be a half-baked idea for an article. A few pages later? A drawing from my daughter. The magic of a catch-all notebook is that it doesn’t have to be neat or structured—it just has to exist.

Keeping all my thoughts in one place clears up so much mental clutter. Instead of trying to remember things (and failing), I write them down, freeing up brain space for actual thinking. Plus, flipping back through old notes is like discovering time capsules of past ideas—some good, some terrible, but all helpful.

The best part? My catch-all notebook is just for me. No one sees it, so there’s no pressure to make it look good. I can write in a rush, scribble nonsense, cross things out, and let it be messy. It’s a judgment-free zone where perfection doesn’t matter—only getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper.

A catch-all notebook might change your life if you’ve ever struggled with keeping track of ideas, tasks, or just random thoughts. Grab a notebook, stop worrying about structure, and start writing.

Your brain will thank you.

Before we go, last week's cover vote winner was Cover B, which I am pleased to say was mine. Thank you to all those who helped.

If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it. If you need advice or writing tips, I would love to hear them. Drop them in the comments or email me by hitting reply to this newsletter.

Until next week stay safe

Sam 😊

I write and write until my brain hurts. I write everyday - Eminem

Articles this week

The twenty-seven club is known for its tragic coincidences in rock & roll history. In 1994, when Kurt Cobain died, many fans connected his age to Jim Morrison, Janis…

The 27 Club

a year ago · 5 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

February Reading Round Up

This month has been a mixed bag for me. I read more than I thought, especially in the later part of the month when I was battling the flu. Incidentally, I am writing this article from my daughter's hospital bed, as she was taken very poorly with the flu…

How to Use Social Media Intentionally

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 07:02:05 GMT

This week, I shared a note about how, this year, I have been more intentional with my social media usage, which resulted in me reading fifteen books in January.

Before you are all super impressed, I have read significantly less this month. Mainly because for ten days of this month, I was struck down by the dreaded flu, and my brain could only do one thing at a time: breathing. Writing and reading went right out of the window.

It is not just the effect of social media on our mental health we should worry about but on our relationships and family as well, which is why I have used this strategy to reduce significantly the amount of time I spend on these sites as well as continuing to build a following.

The strange side effect of this usage has been that I now find social media extremely dull and would far rather pick up a book or write than doom-walk.

The first thing I would advise if you want to reduce your own time is to have a schedule. Every week, sit down and work out what you are going to post on what platforms and on what days. Then, batch-write all your posts. Yes, you can still include a witty, quick thought, but this way, at least you have a plan.

I am also very deliberate about the content I post on every site. I have niche topics for each platform related to a specific newsletter. For example, on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@bookchroniclesuk), I share my book content and my history and crime articles on [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/samharnold.bsky.social).

Yes, I use the same content across multiple platforms; sometimes, I tweak it slightly to fit a specific audience. All of this is done during my planning stage. I have one central platform on which I concentrate all my effort, and for me, that is Notes; everything else is a second concern.

Then, I simply visit social media twice: once at the beginning of the day to post content and once towards the end of the day to interact, reply to comments and chat.

All my favourite content providers are in lists on my profiles, so I don't have to slog through all the irrelevant rubbish to find the people I like.

My last bonus tip is that if you spend time on social media, most of them have very little moderation; you will get your fair share of nutters - use the block button.

Try this and see if you can write more. Donna Tartt was once asked why she did not have any social media. She said that Becky Swift, Margaret Drabble’s daughter, was very emphatic: "You should never get social media, Donna Tartt; it’s a terrible idea for you; it’s noisy and shallow and distracting, and it will sneak into your reading and writing life in a thousand horrible ways and be a monstrous waste of your energy and time. She took her advice, maybe you should.

If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it.

Until next week stay safe

Sam 😊

It seems to me that, despite our rapid advancements and industrialisation as a society over the past century, our lives have become increasingly less human. Everything in our lives is coated in artificiality. - Brock Covington

Articles this week

Several weeks ago, we looked at mob mentality. After this article, I came across the Milgram Shock Experiment, which further shows how ordinary people can kill…

Why Ordinary People Kill

a year ago · 6 likes · 4 comments · Sam H Arnold

How James Patterson Finished Michael Crichton's Latest Novel

Michael Crichton has long been a favourite of mine. As a teenager, I devoured his books, which seemed prophetic in their nature—tales of nanotechnology and genetic modification…

Starting is the Hardest Part

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 07:01:29 GMT

My daughter, who started school this year, has started to read. It is an exciting time for her as she has always been a book lover, and now she gets the joy of knowing how to interpret those books. However, she is reluctant to start. She doesn't get the same joy through reading herself, she still prefers me to read to her. There is a part of me that is secretly happy about that.

Watching her being too frightened to take those first steps into reading in case she gets it wrong made me think about how I was when I started teaching. On my first day teaching, I was bright red and so nervous; one of the more experienced teachers put her arm on me and said it would get better. I thought she was mad; how would this even get better? Now, I walk into a classroom and don't give the lesson a second thought. After twenty-five years, it is second nature.

We are all like this when we start writing: Will the work be received well? Have I made any errors in it? The first thing to say is, yes, you will make errors. Even the most seasoned writer makes errors in their work; it is human nature. That should not stop you from starting, though.

When you start writing, your words will feel clunky, and it will be hard to truly portray the message in your head on paper, but it will get easier as you write. Even if it is the worst thing anyone has ever written, you have to hit publish. Taking that first step in showing your work is the most important. The next piece will be slightly easier, and as you practice, this will keep getting easier.

Writing is never easy. I still struggle with some articles, but I know now that I can sit down and write a newsletter with minimum stress. I enjoy the process now and look forward to sitting and chatting with you all on Sunday.

If you have been lurking on Substack and never had the courage to start your first article, I urge you to make this week the week you start. Starting is the hardest part; from then on, it becomes easy.

If you're still not convinced, reply to this email and send me your draft, and I will look it over for you.

Until next week stay safe

Sam 😊

Writing happens in the unconscious, in the hours trying to sleep, in the hours actually sleeping, in the hours listening to music, walking, playing with a yo-yo or reading other people's books. - Stephen Fry

Articles this week

The Wrongful Conviction of Michael Stone

When I write a case like this, I try to keep my opinion to myself; this was especially true in the early days of my writing. When I originally wrote about this case, that was the same. However, it is fair to say that I always believe the police had the wrong man in custody. I even thought I knew who killed Lin and Megan Russell…

a year ago · 2 likes · 4 comments · Sam H Arnold

Tarnished - Erica Rose Eberhart

I received this book in return for an honest review. Have to say though I am very pleased I did as this became my first five star read of 2025…

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 07:01:24 GMT

Ideas can come from many places at many different times, something I have really grown to appreciate over the last six months while carrying my pocket notebook.

The notebook allows me to capture anything that enters my head instantly. When I look back, some of them are random rubbish, but some are the start of an article. The last three months of these articles have come from random thoughts in my notebook.

It is not just articles these random jottings have provided material for but also social media posts and occasionally thoughts to reflect on in my journal.

There are other methods, though, that you can adopt to create ideas. Some creatives have set sessions where they sit down and create multiple ideas.

So how do you do this?

Think about your target audience and come up with several ideas and headlines that fit into these four categories:

What fears do your target audience have?
What problems and frustrations are they experiencing?
What are their short-term goals and wants?
What are their long-term goals and wants?

Don't overthink it. Just write your best guesses. These are ideas for your following articles. Write articles that answer these questions, share your ideas and thoughts on the topic, and give the reader new knowledge they will need.

Idea creation is as simple as that. The last thing I would say is that if you discover something new that excites you, then share it with others.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

A history of ideas, which is all that science fiction ever has been. - Ray Bradbury.

Articles this week

The Joy of Reading a Classic Novel Serially

Can you imagine reading the whole of the Fire and Ice series without stopping? The books are big; if you read them continuously, you will not know where one book ends and another starts…

a year ago · Sam H Arnold

The Holocaust and the Psychology of Mass Violence

To describe the Holocaust in its most basic structure, it would be that it was men killing other men over a prolonged period. What few know is that many of the killers were not soldiers. The Holocaust turned ordinary men into professional killers…

Juggling Life, Family and Side-Hustles

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 07:01:55 GMT

As a working mother, it can often feel like you are constantly juggling multiple roles and responsibilities.

I have experienced my fair share of guilt. I love my job and am passionate about teaching, but it often feels like there aren’t enough hours to complete everything.

One of my biggest sources of guilt is the feeling that I am not spending enough quality time with my children. When I leave for work in the morning, I often feel like I am missing out on important moments in their lives.

Over time, I’ve learned some tips and tricks that have helped me maximise my productivity while ensuring I have enough time for myself and my family.

Setting clear goals and priorities for yourself is essential.

Start by listing everything you need to accomplish in a given day or week, then rank those tasks in order of importance. This will help you stay focused on what matters and prevent you from getting sidetracked by less important tasks.

Take some time each evening to plan out your schedule for the next day, including any meetings or appointments you have, deadlines you need to meet, and tasks you need to complete.

This will help you stay organised and make the most of your time. I always include a daily highlight in this planning; this is the one task that has to be accomplished in the day.

Use technology to your advantage.

There are countless apps and tools available that can help you stay organised and maximise your productivity.

For example, you could use a task management app like Todoist to keep track of your to-do list or a time-tracking app like Toggl to help you stay focused and avoid distractions.

Take some time to explore the different options available and find the ones that work best for you. I studied them all and decided a paper and pen was best, this is your journey though so have a look at range before making your choice.

Take breaks.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you must constantly work to be productive, but that’s simply not true.

In fact, taking regular breaks can help you be more productive in the long run. Take breaks throughout the day to stretch, get some fresh air, or recharge your batteries. The Pomodoro Technique can help with this.

The Pomodoro Technique helps people focus on completing tasks by breaking them down into 25-minute intervals called Pomodoros, followed by short breaks.

By implementing effective strategies, you can find success both at work and at home. Remember to set realistic expectations for yourself, prioritise self-care, and focus on one task at a time. With dedication and determination, you can overcome the challenges balancing all aspects of your life, whilst watching your children grow up.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

Time is not refundable; use it with intention

Articles this week

The Attack on the USS Liberty

On 8 June 1967, the first rays of the sun shone on the waves. A dozen miles north in the Mediterranean, the USS Liberty headed east…

Introducing Erica Rose Eberhart

I'm an editor by trade and mother by choice. I grew up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, went to college in Eastern Pennsylvania, and worked in Washington DC for years before settling in the Finger Lakes region of New York. I have two degrees in English and am passionate about continuing to learn about anything and everything I can get my hands on…

How to Write a Crime Novel

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 07:01:25 GMT

Happy New Year, all, and thank you for your continued support. One of the books I was gifted for Christmas, and I am excited to read, is the new Robert Galbraith book, JK Rowling, for those who don't know. This started me thinking about the skills you need to write a crime novel.

Having published my novel, The Retribution Killer, last year, I thought I would share some tips I picked up during my research.

The reader can solve the mystery.

Whether it is murder, missing persons or any other premise for your crime novel, the audience should have an equal chance of solving the crime as the detective.

Nothing is more satisfying as a reader than working out the twist before the book tells you.

The crime writer then has a clever juggling act to provide clues as the book progresses, but not so many that the perpetrator is recognised in the first five chapters.

The ideal reaction would be for a reader to want to reread the book to see if they can spot the clues when they know the end.

The culprit should be discovered by deduction.

I have read books where the culprit is discovered, and you think, no way that isn’t possible. I am not talking about the wonder if you didn’t see something coming, but the plain that does not work moments.

Beta readers are your friends here; they should be able to tell you if the result is impossible.

The detective should also discover the culprit through their deductive powers, not through an accident or a coincidence. No reader literally wants a culprit to fall into the detective’s lap.

The novel needs a detective.

I know, obvious, right. But, there has to be a character following the clues so the reader can also follow.

This, however, does not have to be your typical detective; this could be a mother looking for her child’s killer. A woman who is seeking answers to her husband’s disappearance. It doesn’t matter who the character is, but your book needs a detective.

A familiar culprit is best.

I have read books where the culprit was someone we only met briefly in the novel. For example, Chris Carter wrote a book where the culprit was one of the tech guys at the scene with maybe ten lines of the story.

However, this is rare. Most detective novels work best when you have seen all aspects of the culprit, looked them in the eye and still didn’t see they were guilty.

You need at least enough information about the perpetrator to recognise them when they are revealed.

Short Passages

There are always exceptions to all rules. However, generally speaking, your crime novel should have no long descriptive passages.

Crime readers like a quick, fast-paced plot — a story where they can skip through pages, taking in all the clues and all the action. A rapid pace also helps the reader not quickly discover who the culprit is.

James Patterson has made millions from writing short chapters with no description. He isn’t my thing, but you can’t detract from his accomplishments. You can fly through tens of short chapters at a time to read a James Patterson book.

There are many other aspects of writing a crime novel that you need to consider, but if you stick to these main ones, you could write a bestseller.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

The character that lasts is an ordinary guy with some extraordinary qualities. -Raymond Chandler

Articles this week

Three From 2024 and Three For 2025

There have been a lot of these posts in the book world recently. I am always concerned about committing to my top three in December; what about if I read a killer book in the last week? So, as it is January, I can securely say these were my top three books in 2024…

Violet Jessop, the Titanic Passenger Who Cheated Death Four Times

Violet Jessop, the Titanic Passenger Who Cheated Death Four Times…

a year ago · 7 likes · Sam H Arnold

Can You Balance 'Should' Tasks With Your Wants

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 07:01:39 GMT

This week, I watched an Ali Abdaal video, and he said something that resonated with me. I used to watch his stuff, but I got fed up listening to him moan about his life as a millionaire. However, in this video, he spoke about the difference between tasks we should do and tasks we want to do.

This video was extremely poignant for this week as I have hit a massive brick wall in my creativity. A mixture of my daughter's birthday, all my children being ill, and a continued health condition led to me wanting to climb into a hole and not come out. I haven't published for a week. I know burnout is also due to an imbalance between my should and want tasks.

Should tasks, are those tasks we all know we should be doing, or rather tasks others tell us we should be doing? For example, within writing, we are told we should write every day, publish regularly, and interact on all social media to build a following. The irony is this is the advice I have given you all over the years.

I go through a continual cycle of joining all the social media and writing sites, trying to make a presence on them, only to hit burnout and cut back on them all. This, I believe, is my third go-round on the cycle. I was told I should be on this site, I should be on that site, so I joined, and now I have no enthusiasm to carry on any of them.

If this sounds familiar to your writing, let me ask you what you want to do with your creative life.? Take a moment and honestly think about what your wants are. Mine is simple: I want to write articles that interest me. I want to share those times when I disappeared down my rabbit hole. I second want to write this newsletter as I love documenting my process, and I hope some of you take something away from it.

Do I want to be on social media? Probably not I am so fed up with all the politics and doomsday crap. If I am about to be hit by a nuclear weapon due to World War III, then I can do without knowing. People will tell me I should be on social media building my content, but I don't want to, so why should I?

When you follow your wants, you find a new level of energy in your creative process, and hopefully, the burnout will now start disappearing from your life.

What do you want to do?

Until next week stay safe

Sam 😊

There are so many ways in which we 'should' ourselves but every 'should' has behind it some kind of shame and whip. - Carl Rogers

Article this week

The Inspiration for Fantasy Authors

The one aspect of reading that fascinates me the most is who inspired the writers who write popular books. Every person who has written has been inspired by someone. Within my writing, I try to adopt some of the storytelling that Ann Rule uses in her true crime books…

a year ago · 1 like · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

My Best Productivity Tool Costs £1

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 07:01:51 GMT

This week, I picked my five-year-old up from school and was told she was a math genius for her age. My children are gifted in math, which is no coincidence because I am a math teacher. Not that I have sat them down for an official lesson, but it is constantly around us. We always ask them how many sweets they have left and how many each sibling gets.

This constant presence has helped them and can be used in your writing and idea creation. If you constantly write down ideas as they enter your head, it becomes second nature, and you never struggle for an idea again. Many have read this advice several times, yet few have followed it.

Why?

Is it the stigma of looking stupid pulling out a notebook? Most people pull out their phones without a second thought when talking to someone, so why should we, as writers, feel embarrassed at pulling out a notebook?

Are you worried that you might lose them? This can easily be overcome, and I use cheap notebooks from the supermarket to lessen the worry.

There are so many advantages of notebooks

When you write by hand, you must know where the sentence is going. This thought is a vital skill to learn and helps you develop your writing skills. Many studies have been conducted that prove that writing by hand aids retention.

Jackie Collins would write her first draft by hand. The fantastic Roald Dahl would go into his writing shed, sharpen several pencils and write in a notebook. I find it easier to plan articles on paper. There are many fantastic programs for mind mapping, but they all contain much more friction than paper and pen.

The other main advantage of a notebook is it is cheap. You don't need to buy an expensive pad and pen; I would advise against it. If you have expensive materials, you worry about losing them. None of us need more worry. Instead, buy a cheap notebook and personalise them. With young children, you can imagine how many pictures I accumulate that they have drawn me; I stick them to the book's cover. It will be a lovely memory of their progress, as well as my thoughts.

How I Use Mine

I always have a notebook and write down anything that comes into my head. For example, 90% of this article comes from a line here and there written down.

Every night, I place my notebook on my bedside table, and I note it down if something comes to mind. I don't even have to turn the light on, and I certainly don't have to pick up my phone.

Of course, this system is not perfect. The other night, I wrote the word hamster, and although I can remember writing it, I have no idea why or what it means. However, more often than not, it helps with idea retention.

Famous Notebook Users

Despite all this and a movement towards notebook carrying again, people are embarrassed to pull out a notebook but not a phone. This is mainly due to the time we spend together. Go back in history; you would be considered strange if you did not have a notebook. Sherlock Holmes is often seen to place something in his pocketbook.

Darwin wrote most of his Origin of Species in several notebooks whilst he travelled the world. He didn't just write. He drew pictures and connected ideas. Shakespeare would have been taught note-taking at school; he created little from nothing; instead, it was reworked passages he had saved.

Dickens mentioned that Mr Pickwick carried a notebook to record 'discoveries noteworthy', and so was the habit of carrying a notebook part of Victorian society.

Modern author Donna Tartt is an extensive notebook user. She wrote some of The Goldfinch in her notebook whilst travelling to promote The Secret History. In an interview with the author, she admits feeling lost without her notebook beside her.

I am not suggesting that you replace your phone with a pad, but I am suggesting it as a valuable writing tool. Aim to strike a balance by reaching for a notebook rather than your notes app. It will also stop you from disappearing down a rabbit hole of notifications and endless scrolling.

Buy a notebook this week and take a step in the right direction towards effortless productivity.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

And the idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for awhile is just bliss. - J. K. Rowling

What Did You Do In Lockdown?

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:01:20 GMT

What did you do during lockdown? Some of us may have started a blog, and others may have written a book. You are not alone; throughout history, remarkable discoveries have been made during lockdown times.

Amongst my writer friends, Edward Anderson and I started Crimebeat on Medium, and Karen Shelton wrote a book and planned a new social site.

I have already discussed how Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein whilst confined to a house during terrible weather.

Pandemics or political crises can trigger lockdowns. These times have produced some remarkable artistic, scientific, and cultural achievements. Here are a few notable creations and developments that emerged during lockdowns throughout history

The Black Death, which lasted from 1347 - 1351, was considered one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, with millions of people dying. During the Great Plague of London, Isaac Newton was forced to leave Cambridge University and retreat to his family home in Woolsthorpe.

This period of isolation, known as his "Annus Mirabilis" (Year of Wonders), led to some of the most groundbreaking scientific work in history. He developed the following theories:

Theory of Gravitation: While observing an apple fall, he conceived the foundational ideas of gravity.
Development of Calculus: Newton began formulating calculus, a crucial mathematical framework still used today.
Optics: He conducted experiments with light, which led to his theory that white light is composed of various colours.

Almost a hundred years earlier, theatres were closed during an outbreak of the bubonic plague in London, leading to enforced isolation for William Shakespeare. In this period, he wrote some of his greatest tragedies, including:

King Lear
Macbeth
Antony and Cleopatra

These masterpieces were created amid anxiety and uncertainty, capturing power, ambition, and human frailty themes.

While confined in a hotel during the Spanish Civil War, Ernest Hemingway worked on several novels, including For Whom the Bell Tolls, which explores themes of love, war, and personal sacrifice during times of crisis.

During the plague of Athens in 430BCE, which devastated Athens by killing one-third of the population, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius started journalling.

The book would be published after his death as one of the significant Stoic pieces of literature, Meditations.

Despite their challenges, Lockdowns have often stimulated individuals to create extraordinary works across art, science, and culture, turning moments of crisis into opportunities for creativity and discovery.

We can use this mentality in today's world and, no matter what obstacle we face, turn it into an opportunity to move forward with our goals.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

Opportunities are grains of sand. They slide right past drooping fingers, but an active palm can gather whatever is within reach and shape it into a little castle. It is the act of engaging with the material that gives it shape. - James Clear

Articles this week

The Roanoke Tribe, also known as the Roanoke Indians, is an enigmatic and lesser-known group of Native Americans whose history has puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries…

The Roanoke Tribe

The Inspiration for Fahrenheit 451

I love the classics, but it wasn't always like that. I hated them at school. That was until I read the subject of this article, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, and my love of dystopian classics erupted. This book leads me to Animal Farm, 1984, Brave New World and many more…

a year ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

Find Friends to Work With

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 07:01:44 GMT

There are records of great creatives working together in a scenius throughout history. This is more than a social group; it is a meeting of minds, mutual appreciation, and friendly competition between creatives.

Regardless of what you create, great names have worked together. After competing for an American publishing contract, Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle became close friends. CS Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien inspired each other to produce their best work.

Within my writing career, I have been profoundly lucky to have a group with whom I converse regularly. We are all crime writers but also friends, so we decided to try an experiment in writing this week.

You are going to see three pieces on the Menendez brothers by Edward Anderson, Karen M. Shelton and myself. We have called this one case three perspectives. That is precisely what you are getting: three articles about the same case, each concentrating on a different angle.

The idea came to us as we discussed the Menendez case and how the Netflix miniseries, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story handled things.

How could they do this? Did their father abuse them? Why does no one talk about Judalon Smyth? Then came the idea that we could all write about this from our unique perspectives.

Too often, writers, especially those in the crime genre, fret about discussing cases with their friends. There is a worry that someone will steal an idea or find success with the research that you all did.

We are not those crime writers. There’s a joy that comes from talking about cases with one another. Ideas are formed. And sometimes, yes, we are swayed by what someone says.

With the Menendez case, there’s a lot of agreement. The brothers should not still be in prison. There was a miscarriage of justice in their second trial, but each of us has our unique insight to put on the case.

So please sit back and enjoy all three pieces linked below. Let us know your perspective on the case. And please like and subscribe to my partners in crime.

Maybe this is something you can try when you find your Scenius.

If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it. If you need advice or writing tips, I would love to hear them. Drop them in the comments or find me in chat.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

Genius is individual, scenius is communal - Brian Eno

One Case, Three Perspectives

Here Is Something All New Writers Need to Know

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 07:02:03 GMT

I love the fact that Substack is growing, but I hate the invasion of marketers. Here is something few new writers know.

Some creators on here offer courses on how to make it on Substack. They are not worth the money; most of them churn out the same rubbish on how to kill it on Medium, LinkedIn, etc. I swear they have just hit find and replace and changed the platform's name.

What these courses do offer, though, are discord communities where when you post a link to your note. Everyone is then encouraged to like and comment on everyone else’s. It’s a con. Leave the discord server. Stop paying $50 a month. You are back to crickets.

They suggest another technique: commenting on people's articles. They do not say to read them; leave a comment, and a proportion will follow you. You may be saying how they can comment if they don't read. Well, I recently caught a very popular commenter out. They use AI to generate comments. Do you feel a little sick to the stomach? I do.

However, after being here since the start, I have found that these techniques work.

Post regularly, possibly on a set day
Find people in your niche and build a relationship, recommend each other's newsletter
Build relationships with people on notes by helping out when you can.
Don’t give up; it’s a hard slog, but it's worth it.
Write for the love of writing, and your tribe will find you.

I really hope that helps. If you need any more advice, drop me a DM or find me on chat, and I’ll not charge you a penny. I was where you were once, and I’m fed up with the marketers on here robbing people of their cash.

So think of this newsletter when you see someone with loads of likes or comments on a simple introductory note. Remember that it is far better to have five genuine readers than 100 fake followers.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.― Octavia Butler

Articles this week

A Foot Found on Everest Could Change Everything We Know About the First People to Reach the Summit.

Last week, I told the story of Edmund Hillary's expedition to the summit of Mount Everest and the confusion surrounding who reached the top first. I also hinted in the comments that I thought it might not have been either of them…

Was Robinson Crusoe a Novel or Political Pamphlet?

Robinson Crusoe was first published on 25 April 1719. The book follows the lead character, Robinson Kreutznaer after being cast away on an island. Here, he spends twenty-eight years and encounters cannibals, captives and mutineers…

a year ago · Sam H Arnold

What is Your Favourite Halloween Read?

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 06:01:07 GMT

Something a bit different this week. Good writers, read. Some of us read what we want when we want. I like to try to read some seasonal books at certain times of the year, mainly Christmas and Halloween.

There are many good books you can pick up during the spooky month, but I believe these five books capture the spirit of Halloween.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - A classic in horror literature, this novel follows four people who stay at a supposedly haunted mansion. Jackson masterfully builds psychological tension, making the house seem like a living, malevolent presence.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - The story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a living being from dead body parts. Horrified by his creation, Victor abandons the creature, who feels rejected and lonely. The novel explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God.

Dracula by Bram Stoker - A timeless vampire novel that has influenced countless horror stories. Told through letters and journal entries, this Gothic tale explores Count Dracula’s eerie influence on Victorian England.

Lady Sannox by Arthur Conan Doyle - A story of love, betrayal and revenge. Although it is only a short story, it has lived with me since I read it. The end is truly horrific. Doyle, known for Sherlock Holmes, showcases his talent with a different genre here.

Misery by Stephen King - A chilling story about fans and how crazy they can become. When her favourite writer kills off her favourite character in his latest book, Annie is determined to have the story she wants.

Each book offers a different kind of horror, from psychological tension to supernatural fear, perfect for a spooky October night!

If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it. What is your favourite Halloween read?

Until next week stay safe

Sam 😊

Quote of the week

Perhaps there just are things about the world that it's hard to get our minds round. - Edward Craig

Articles this week

Who Was the First Man to Reach the Summit of Everest?

Many people know the story of Edmund Hillary reaching the summit of Everest. What few people knew until recently was that Hillary may not have been the first person to…

a year ago · 5 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

The Untold Legacy of Mary Shelley

October is the month I read Frankenstein, and it is as much part of my reading schedule as A Christmas Carol. Frankenstein was published when Mary Shelley was nineteen years old, and many believe this is where her career ended…

a year ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold

Write Like a Child

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 06:03:14 GMT

Watching my daughter play with her toys this week struck me as a sign of how free children are. When you watch children play, you notice how uninhibited and free they are—completely lost in the moment. Imagine bringing that same joyful, uninhibited energy to your writing

As children, we were fearless when it came to creating. We didn’t worry about whether our drawings were perfect or if the stories we made up “made sense.”

That lack of inhibition is the key to unlocking your creativity. When you stop overthinking and allow yourself to play with words and ideas, the writing becomes more effortless—and fun.

Children don’t care if their drawings are outside the lines, nor should you! Your first draft is your playground—don’t worry about getting it right. Just focus on having fun and exploring your ideas. Ryan Holiday uses the saying, “two crappy pages a day.” He is moving forward as long as he turns up and writes two pages.

Kids follow their curiosity, asking endless “what ifs.” Try this in your writing. What if your character did something unexpected? What if you changed the setting? It could be fun seeing where they take you.

Movement fuels creativity. When you’re feeling stuck, step away from the computer, move around, and let your mind wander. Often, the best ideas come when we’re not focused on them. Get hold of your children and dance like you don't care. They will love it, and so will your writing

Let's make this week a week of creating with freedom and embracing the inner child hidden in all of us.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

Quote of the week

The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. — Carl Jung

Articles this week

The Tower of London Bombing

Most people who visit London head towards the Tower of London at some point. It is a fortress on the Thames with a rich history. Although now mainly for tourists, the tower includes a prison, a palace…

2 years ago · 2 likes · Sam H Arnold

The Subjective Nature of Reading

Scroll any sites famous for book clubs, be it TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, and you will find varied opinions on many books. That is what I love about reading: how subjective it is. One person's five-star read is another person's DNF. (Did not finish…

a year ago · 4 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

How do you Structure an Article?

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 06:02:26 GMT

Last week, I was planning my lessons for my students, and I realised how lesson planning is like writing an article. Many of the tips and tricks I use to keep my students engaged, I use to keep the reader engaged.

If you are new to writing, you might think, but I have nothing to teach anyone. That would be wrong. All you need to find is someone two steps behind you and share your advice. This is true for personal essays as it is for writing tip articles.

Ryan Holiday speaks in many of his videos about how history can teach us about events we are experiencing today—everyone reading this has been through something that will help someone else.

Once you have decided on your topic, this is how you structure an article to keep readers reading.

Whenever I plan a lesson, I have a five-minute opening exercise. In writing, this transfers to a story or quick introduction that introduces the reader to the post and keeps them hooked.

Once I have finished this, I will work on the content of the story. The main meat of the lesson. As in teaching, I vary the structure by introducing different learning methods within writing. I might introduce a question or use bullet points—anything to break from the normal structure.

One of the techniques my students respond to well is when I tell them I don’t know something, but we find out the answer together. Many teachers in the past have made it up. As a writer, you are not expected to know all the answers, but admit that you are still growing, as we all are.

Complete the article by giving your reader a summary of what you have taught them or asking a question to bring them into the discussion. Both work very well and give you a good indication of whether the person has read to the end or not.

Check out the article below for more on the Perfect Structure for the Perfect Article. Let me know which aspect of writing you find the most difficult in the comments.

If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it.

Until next week stay safe

Sam 😊

Quote of the week

All you have to do is train yourself to set out, without any expectations, and pay attention to what happens. - Austin Kleon

Articles this week

Let me introduce you to Adrian Carton De Wiart, possibly one of the luckiest soldiers. Or maybe unlucky, depending on your outlook…

The Unkillable Soldier

2 years ago · 2 likes · 2 comments · Sam H Arnold

This is a little different this week; many of the authors I interview I never speak to in person, only on social media. This week, I am introducing someone I worked with at a school. It always amazes me the people who secretly hide their writing ambitions. We are a secret club that should have a special handshake to let others know we write. This, for T…

Introducing Tracy Parker

2 years ago · 1 like · Sam H Arnold

How One Article Can Be 10 Pieces of Content

Sam H Arnold — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 06:01:58 GMT

Many of us are not lucky enough to be a full-time writer. We all work at this great hobby of ours as a side hustle in the moments when we can five minutes. As a teacher and mother, this is especially true for me.

This is why I must make every piece of research and every word I write count. I do this by transferring one piece of content into ten pieces. I schedule these micro pieces of content for a range of times on various platforms.

It might be that some of this content does not find eyes for months after the original; they are, however, all there when I need them to use.

The first task is researching and writing a full-length article for Substack or another blog. That is essentially the easier part of the writing. The next stage is where the magic happens.

From this original article, pick out three core points. This could be done at the time or after you have published. I wait until I have published as some of these core ideas come from parts readers have resonated with or questions they have asked me to clarify. These three core ideas can be posted as longer-form social media posts on Notes, LinkedIn or Facebook.

You can then pick out three pieces of micro-content from these core areas. A couple of lines that hit home or again something that has come from comments on your core ideas. This content can be posted to sites such as X and Threads. You might even include a graphic with the line and post it on Instagram.

To add to this content, think of one poll you can run that is connected to your original article. Additionally, come up with a question that relates to your article. Both of these can be posted on social media. I prefer sites like X and Threads for these, but you may have a following on LinkedIn that would eat up this content. Experiment and find where these take off.

That is nine pieces of content from one idea. The tenth is a little more specialist and not for everyone. Turn your article into a video; this can be faceless, use graphics, or talk to your audience. There are also AI sites that help you turn articles into short videos. Getting used to these sites takes time, but it isn’t a huge learning curve. You can post this video on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.

A bonus piece of content may come if you choose to do a live question and answer on the topic. Again, there are a range of sites you can broadcast this to; I would also consider Facebook for these as the algorithm on Facebook loves a live.

There, you have one piece of content and potentially eleven other pieces of content from it. You might not use all these suggestions as you might not be on all the social media mentioned; experiment and see what you enjoy doing.

Within my workflow, I use different social media sites for my newsletters. For example, Murder Mayhem UK is on Facebook and The Write Hustle is here, in notes and my DMs are always open if you need advice. Give me a follow-up if you enjoy my content on these subjects.

If you enjoy this email, please share it so more readers can find it.

Until next week, stay safe

Sam 😊

Quote of the week

Writing an idea down can be as difficult as catching lightning in a jar

Articles this week

The Hero Who Saved Thousands From the Holocaust

Between the war years of 1938 and 1939, Swiss border control falsified 3600 Jewish passports to offer safe passage to refugees fleeing the Holocaust. More precisely, the operation was carried out by …

2 years ago · 3 likes · 1 comment · Sam H Arnold