If you're writing anything involving cons, scams, heists, or morally questionable characters who are very good at lying, here are some free resources I've been using for research. Saving you the "why is this in my search history" anxiety.
1. The FBI's Famous Cases & Criminals archive (fbi.gov/history/famous-cases) has detailed breakdowns of real fraud cases, Ponzi schemes, and confidence operations. The language they use is clinical and precise, which is perfect for getting the procedural details right.
2. The FTC Consumer Sentinel Network publishes annual reports on the most common fraud tactics in the US. Great for understanding how modern scams actually work and what makes people fall for them.
3. The Smithsonian's American Art Museum has a free digital collection of forgery case studies. If your character forges documents or art, this is gold.
4. Court Listener (courtlistener.com) is a free legal database where you can read actual court transcripts from fraud trials. Want to know how a real con artist talks under oath? This is where you find out.
5. The Internet Archive's collection of old newspaper crime sections. Search for "confidence man" or "swindle" in papers from the 1920s through 1960s and you'll find incredible real stories that would feel too dramatic for fiction.
Bonus: The Psychology of Fraud section on the Association for Psychological Science website has accessible articles about why people trust, how deception works cognitively, and what makes someone a convincing liar. Essential reading if you want your con artist characters to feel psychologically real.
Reblog to save for later. Your WIP will thank you.
One of the best things about being a writer is thinking of something small you can add to your work that’s just. Devastating. Like you’re sitting there going. Oh. That would be diabolical. People would get really riled up about that. Exquisite. Let’s do it.
I’m always a sucker for the ‘mysterious character turns out to have been the MC’s best friend/family member all along’ trope when it’s done well, but there’s always one thing that gets me if it goes on for too long; how is it always such a massive reveal to the character?
I don’t mean that they should clock it instantly, but if they’ve known each other for such a long time and they’re that close, wouldn’t they slowly start to recognise the same speech and mannerisms and such in the alter ego? If they’ve only interacted for brief periods, then sure, fine, that’s why I specified that they need to have been interacting for a long time. But at what point are we getting to where they really SHOULD know?
Give me a story where they very slowly piece it together, not even intentionally, just naturally sinking into a sort of similar dynamic like muscle memory, because even if they don’t say it, something deep inside them knows that this is their person
Or better still; give me a story where both sides are under alter egos, and they slowly learn each other all over again. Thinking of their dear loved one when they see each other’s oddly familiar mannerisms. Turning a blind eye to the interests the other tries to hide, but making a mental note. Subtly introducing topics and waiting to hear the opinion you’ve heard before echoed. Bringing up inside jokes or references that only they would get, just to see their reaction, even while knowing it would give you away too. Dancing around the truth, but never quite crossing that line, because then the game’s over. And of course, if there’s even the slightest chance you’re wrong, how could you face that truth?
But then something happens to them, and as a scream is ripped from your throat, the name it carries is both wrong and right
Ya know the thing characters do before they come to consciousness? That perfect lil thing where they do that wince, and their eyes which are closed squeeze shut even tighter as their brows forrow, then they slowly open their eyes, blinking against the too-bright light, especially coupled with a soft little noise of distress… just such good shit 👌
The best piece of writing advice I can give is that you should strive to be sincere rather than original.
You can't force originality. Originality will arise as a natural consequence of sincerity. Make the story completely and apologetically yours, and originality will come by virtue of it being your story.
[ID: a header-style image of the word DRAGONSONG in all caps. it’s stylised to look like metal, and includes details like a sword in the upright part of the D, and a cane handle in the hook of the G. the Os also have dragony decoration. / end ID.]
WANTED: DRAGONSONG BETA READERS!!
⚔️ Synopsis
“I used to want to change the world.”
Isi wanted to be a knight since she was seven years old. She wanted to serve her king, to protect the people who need it. Now, she has everything she wanted… until she is ordered to kill a baby dragon. Torn between two parts of her oath, she chooses compassion. In one stroke, everything she has worked so hard for is stripped away.
Adrift without a purpose, Isi must make one for herself. She can’t change the world, not anymore. But, with her former squire Robin by her side, she can seek out a home for the child she saved from the Crown. At least, she can try.
The Crown teaches that dragons were driven from the land long ago. Without them and their songs, magic is fading too. The land is suffering; poverty and famine run rampant through the land outside the king’s citadel, and so do the king’s knights. Mages like Robin live in fear, their very existence a crime.
Serving the king and protecting his people are two very different goals. There are sides, and Isi has been on the wrong one.
But now she has the opportunity to choose again… and maybe, just maybe, she really can change the world.
Someone has to bring back the dragonsong.
⚔️ Key book facts
Genre: fantasy adventure, no romantic subplot.
Age range: older YA/NA, roughly. Isi, our POV character, is 22.
Tropes/vibes: knights and dragons, strong women, "magic is illegal", found family, moral conflict and unpacking corrupt laws, loyalty and identity.
You'll like this if you like: dragons (especially baby dragons), super soldiers, ride-or-die friends, stubbornly kind characters, family and friendships at the centre with less focus on romance.
⚔️ Beta reading facts
Draft length: 141.9k words
Beta reading timeline (dates are approximate!)
Beta reader call closes April 16th
Drafts distributed by April 25th
Feedback due by June 26th [around two months to read]
Format: Google Docs or Ellipsus
Numbers: I ultimately can only work with so much feedback, so if I get lots of interest I may have to pick and choose 😔
so you’ve read this and you’re thinking… how do I sign up? easy! fill out this Google Form and I'll get in touch.
I'd love to get a range of eyes on the draft, including people who aren't as familiar with what I've posted so far, so boosts are greatly appreciated <3
main character intros under the cut!
Isadora (Isi) - 22, she/her, POV character. big strong knight with a big strong heart. loyal and protective, herding dog paladin. friendly, but can be incredibly stubborn when she wants to be.
Robin - 17, he/him. Isi's squire. cautious but curious and nerdy. a mage who's found himself stuck right in the middle of the most hostile place to mages, which does great things for his self-image. alone and adrift at the moment.
Sierra - 19, she/her. Isi's younger sister. quick-thinking and quick to act. casual and blunt, and a skilled pickpocket. very normal about the fact that Isi left home to become a knight.
Holly - 18, she/her. Sierra's girlfriend. trained healer, calculating and careful. slow to trust, and newer to this whole idea of 'supporting mages', but she's smart and practical and wants to protect her loved ones.
SB - 30, he/him. a sarcastic, self-loathing, wandering mage looking for a home and a purpose.
Enya - 34, she/her. baby red dragon saved by Isi. loves scritches and riding on people's shoulders; will complain if she is not fed on time.
there are lots of side characters I love dearly, but I do want to keep this post to a somewhat reasonable length!
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