TKZ Celebrates 12 Years!

The Kill Zone blog makes its debut on 08/08/08. We’re an exciting group of thriller and mystery authors. Stay tuned!

By Joe Moore

That announcement was made 12 years ago by a small group of professional writers with the mission to share our knowledge and talents with others. The goal was to help make everyone that visited TKZ a better storyteller and reader. The original group included its founder Kathryn Lilley along with Michelle Gagnon, John Gilstrap, John Ramsey Miller, Clare Langley-Hawthorne, and myself. Not bad for a starting team!

Twelve years is a long time for a niche blog to exist on the Internet. Twelve months is a bit more like it. Group-writer blogs have been formed by many authors; most eventually running out of things to say and falling by the wayside. But TKZ is alive and well, garnishing numerous awards including the coveted Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers 6 times.

How has TKZ prevailed? Of course, great writing tips and advice from successful authors are givens. Lots of blogs to that. We took it a step further by offering original ideas.

In 2012, we came up with the concept of First Page Critiques. Anyone can submit the first page of their manuscript anonymously. In return, they get an in-depth critique by a top-shelf author and additional feedback in the comments section of the post. And unlike other critique services, our First Page Critiques are free. You can review all the FPC at First Page Critiques.

We featured “Killer Sunday”, hosting some of the best mystery and thriller guest authors to be found including Alafair Burke, David Hewson, Cara Black, Michael Palmer, Tosca Lee, Hallie Ephron, Robin Burcell, Steve Berry, Sandra Brown, and so many other generous writers who shared their talent with our visitors.

If you’re looking for help with a particular issue, there’s TKZ Library covering topics such as Indie Publishing, Revision & Editing, and Developing Author Voice among many others.

Our list of emeritus bloggers that have been a part of TKZ team over the years is beyond impressive: John Ramsey Miller, Kathleen Pickering, Michelle Gagnon, Boyd Morrison, Jodie Renner, Nancy Cohen, Larry Brooks, Robert Gregory Browne, and Jordan Dane.

Bottom line: TKZ is the Fort Knox of writer’s information. No matter where you are in your career as a novelist, you’ll always come away with a little more knowledge than before. TKZ is a value-added resource that has been here for 12 years. Take advantage of it. And raise a toast to at least 12 more years of sharing the art of writing.

27 thoughts on “TKZ Celebrates 12 Years!

  1. Thanks for the very nice summary of the past twelve years, Joe. If I may, I’d like to thank all of the visitors to this blog who read and sometimes comment on the day’s post. Without you, there would be no reason to be here.

  2. Thank you for being here. The Killzone is one of three that I never miss reading. You have entertained, taught, and provided just plain common sense each day. Since I blog twice a week, I really appreciate your dedication to sharing with readers like me your knowledge and encouragement!

  3. Happy anniversary, TKZ! We’ve come a long way, baby. I’m honored to call TKZ my online home away from home. Cheers to many, many more years! *clink*

    Joe, thanks for the stroll through past years. I need to go back and read Sandra Brown’s guest post on Killer Sunday, along with several other authors you mentioned. ?

  4. Congratulations on 12 years. I’ve been an avid reader for much of that time, and am honored to be one of the newbies here.

  5. I have learned so much since I began reading TKZ about eight years or so ago.

    I appreciate it you all providing it for us.

    Thank you.

  6. I remember how glad I was to find TKZ. It became my regular go-to for reading about craft and the business side of things. And then I was invited to join this august company. What a great ride it’s been. Thanks for the stroll, Joe.

  7. “TKZ is the Fort Knox of writer’s information.”

    True! Whenever new writers ask me for advice, I steer them to the TKZ first page critiques. I suggest they read the ms, make their own evaluation, then compare their reaction to that of the pros. I can think of no better way to jump-start one’s writing career.

  8. Happy Birthday, TKZ!

    For almost a decade, every morning starts with coffee and TKZ. Not sure which addiction is stronger.

    I still can’t believe my good fortune to work among these powerhouses of knowledge.

    As Joe H. says above, loyal readers are the reason for TKZ. Your comments, suggestions, and questions keep me on my toes and constantly striving to learn more. Your feedback is our best reward.

    Time for birthday cake!

  9. Happy 12th Anniversary. I never miss reading a post, even if I don’t always comment. If I don’t have anything worthwhile to say, I keep quiet, but I always appreciate the gems and information I glean from each post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

  10. Thanks to all past and present TKZ bloggers. You’ve been at the core of my writing education. And congrats for your success as the best teaching-the-craft blog site.

    Here’s to many more years of continuing success (virtual “clink” with Sue’s champagne flute).

  11. Happy Anniversary, TKZ!

    This is hands-down my all-time favorite writing blog, and now, my favorite place on writing. I can’t thank all the KZB bloggers enough for all that they’ve shared. Not only is this site gold for mystery and thriller writers, it’s gold for any fiction writer who wants to learn about craft, and how to handle mystery and suspense elements in their own novels, regardless of genre. I started lurking here seven years ago or so, back when I was struggling with a novel. The advice and encouragement here helped me in so many ways.

  12. Happy Anniversary TKZ and thank you to all TKZ’s post contributors, past and present as well as everyone who chimes in with comments. I remember many years ago I was trying to keep up with a ton of writing-related blogs, including TKZ. As time went on I realized it wasn’t sustainable to do that, both because there simply aren’t enough hours in the day and over time, I lost interest in reading blogs because *everyone* was doing it. So I whittled down to 3 blogs and now down to one–this one.

    I have also always appreciated the fact that I never felt unwelcome to participate, even though thrillers & mysteries aren’t my main genre.

    Thanks to all, and do indeed celebrate a job well done.

  13. So honored to have been part of the team of this excellent blog and a regular contributor for several years. I’m also pleased to have had the opportunity to set up the TKZ Library (link at the top), categorized by subject matter so writers and aspiring authors can easily locate TKZ posts on topics of interest to them. As a fiction editor, I have been sending my writer clients here for years to read the spot-on and often entertaining advice by all the talented contributors. Here’s to another 12 great years!

  14. Happy Birthday, ladies and gents of TKZ!

    I may not comment often, but I’m here every day for my fix of writer’s gold. Your posts are informative, inspiring, funny, sad, and inspiring. Keep on sharing with us for another twelve years (and then another, and another). I’ll be here to read as long as you’re here to write.

    Congratulations!

  15. This is one of only two blogs I must check into every day. Not only are the information and Viewpoints excellent, but I love the lack of snobbery when discussing writers of all career stages, both Traditionally published and self-published.

  16. TKZ and a cup of coffee starts my day, everyday. Thank all of you for making my writing better by so generously giving of your experience and knowledge.

  17. Congratulations on 12 years. I have been reading the excellent TKZ for a while now. Thank you to all the contributors who take their time to help us improve our writing.

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