Find Friends to Work With

This week, we built our own modern scenius.

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

Murder Mayhem UK

Unraveling Erik Menendez’s Story of Family, Fame, and Fear

Coffee and Crime

Judalon Smyth Exposed More Than The Menendez Brothers

2 Sides 2 Every Crime

The Toxic Relationship Between Kitty and Erik Menendez