tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post5311154169853328649..comments2024-03-18T15:15:52.347-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Planning Mysteries and Agatha Christie’s Secret NotebooksJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-48953715387690823452012-05-27T19:20:38.641-04:002012-05-27T19:20:38.641-04:00The book dissection process sounds fascinating, Li...The book dissection process sounds fascinating, Linda.<br /><br />I think I'll take a run out to a bookstore tomorrow. This is one of the books on my list; I promised myself that I would treat myself to some new books with my tax refund, and tomorrow is a free day!Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-50182543426086685862012-05-27T10:48:45.266-04:002012-05-27T10:48:45.266-04:00Deb, you will love it. I'm trying to talk Ben ...Deb, you will love it. I'm trying to talk Ben into doing a book dissection group of two with me. We'd choose one of A.C.'s novels and read it, then take it apart scene by scene, including the relevant parts of the notebooks, to see how she did what she did. I always tell students you can't steal wording ever, but the best writers steal technique and make it their own.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-87956783652257130082012-05-27T10:45:35.073-04:002012-05-27T10:45:35.073-04:00Valerie, yes, it does give hope to the scattered (...Valerie, yes, it does give hope to the scattered (or right-brained) among us! Actually, it's fascinating glimpse into the way the creative mind works.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79020225807625081812012-05-27T10:43:54.427-04:002012-05-27T10:43:54.427-04:00Gloria, I've read it through a couple of times...Gloria, I've read it through a couple of times, but I go back and dip into it here and there all the time. Mostly to inspire myself to keep working even when I can't see the way things will work out. Christie trusted in the process, and it seldom let her down.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-4614142994484239112012-05-27T10:41:49.299-04:002012-05-27T10:41:49.299-04:00EB, you're a sweetheart! I was pretty out of ...EB, you're a sweetheart! I was pretty out of it most of yesterday, but the other meds are kicking in now, so I can cut back the pain meds. <br /><br />Actually, I just set my foot wrong as I walked upstairs. I'd injured this knee right before my book launch and had to go on book tour with it a major problem. Probably reinjured it slightly a couple of times. I'm finally finished with book tour and thought I'd have a chance to let it heal finally when this happened. guess my body's going to see to it that it gets a chance to heal.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-84817838726897421762012-05-26T21:23:03.276-04:002012-05-26T21:23:03.276-04:00Because I love to know the "why" and the...Because I love to know the "why" and the "how" of things, I am eager to read that book.<br /><br />I read a couple of Christie's books as a young adult. I began to read all the rest of them - one after another after another - when I was recuperating from a really nasty episode of back pain after a fall from a ladder when I was in my forties. Between the pain meds and Agatha Christie, I got through it. When I was back on my feet again, I put aside everything else I was reading and just concentrated on her books until I had read them all. A few years passed, and I became really excited when I discovered titles I had not heard about. I wondered if they were manuscripts discovered after her death. But no...they were books I had already read,and they had been re-released under different titles...the original titles,I believe.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-36846432651668208322012-05-26T16:31:19.159-04:002012-05-26T16:31:19.159-04:00When reading the book, I was encouraged to see tha...When reading the book, I was encouraged to see that Agatha Christie didn't have a strictly linear style of story development, or of recording her thoughts (notations about single stories found in more than one notebook). <br /><br />It gives hope to the scatterbrained among us. ;>Valeriehttp://valeriebonham.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-60426676770427910682012-05-26T15:36:30.335-04:002012-05-26T15:36:30.335-04:00I'm sorry, Linda. Well when you do get back, h...I'm sorry, Linda. Well when you do get back, here's my comment. I also love Agatha Christie and bought Curran's book when it first came out and was enjoying it immensely. Unfortunately, I haven't finished it yet. It got gradually buried under book club picks and mysteries I've picked up to read. Your blog makes me want to get back to it.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-68536099331919824002012-05-26T15:35:21.524-04:002012-05-26T15:35:21.524-04:00Holy Smoly, Linda. In between comments were you ru...Holy Smoly, Linda. In between comments were you running hurdles? Take care--knee replacements work, but are a literal and figurative pain. We'd rather you take it easy than be off in rehab for two months. I declare the rest of the weekend (until Monday when I blog :>)) BLOG FREE!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76148758366703177782012-05-26T13:49:08.172-04:002012-05-26T13:49:08.172-04:00I'm sorry I'm so late replying to comments...I'm sorry I'm so late replying to comments. I've blown out the knee I'd injured and been babying for the past couple of months, so spent hours in ER. I'm on heavy pain meds so may not make it back on here today.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-19934557833063856712012-05-26T13:47:02.871-04:002012-05-26T13:47:02.871-04:00You're right, Warren. I've collected write...You're right, Warren. I've collected writers' journals, autobiographies, letters, and manuscript facsimiles since I was in junior high. It's always helpful to see how others manage to work.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-44389144817371660012012-05-26T13:45:07.478-04:002012-05-26T13:45:07.478-04:00Victoria, yes, exactly! The second book of the not...Victoria, yes, exactly! The second book of the notebooks is already out. Curran was up for the Nonfiction Agatha for it. Last year at Malice Domestic, he said that his next project was an uncut version of her autobiography (publishers cut it about in half) with copies of her dictation tapes for it on CD that contained lots of interesting tidbits for those interested in how she wrote.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-22205141064888445732012-05-26T13:31:58.994-04:002012-05-26T13:31:58.994-04:00EB, that sounds exactly like what Agatha did.EB, that sounds exactly like what Agatha did.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-8488039611655371042012-05-26T13:31:22.589-04:002012-05-26T13:31:22.589-04:00James, I agree with you that great writing comes f...James, I agree with you that great writing comes from great revising. I'm always doubtful also of those who claim their books come in a flow and are perfect from the first draft.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12506382326576546412012-05-26T11:58:45.574-04:002012-05-26T11:58:45.574-04:00It is always instructional to see how great writer...It is always instructional to see how great writers work. I have the notebooks in my library too.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76368167289551529992012-05-26T08:13:52.458-04:002012-05-26T08:13:52.458-04:00I found the book exactly the same... very inspirat...I found the book exactly the same... very inspirational! And it affected me the same way... just helped me look at things differently, kind of like an anatomy book lays the skeleton bare. I cut my mystery-loving teeth on Agatha, and still love her books. I've heard there is a second 'Secret Notebooks' book coming out.Victoria Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04957947895990761325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-66984581430332904512012-05-26T07:09:46.962-04:002012-05-26T07:09:46.962-04:00I'm mentally plotting a new short story. I kno...I'm mentally plotting a new short story. I know the setting, I know most of the characters. But I haven't settled on a plot--I've considered two different motivations. My research will determine which way I go.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-1058063191712519202012-05-26T06:50:45.513-04:002012-05-26T06:50:45.513-04:00Yesterday my partner made a comment about a story ...Yesterday my partner made a comment about a story of mine that was recently accepted for an anthology. She said that she had always liked the story through its many revisions and she especially liked the twist at the end, which had been a feature since the first draft.<br /><br />I reread the first draft and discovered that not only had the twist not existed, but the character involved in the twist had not existed either. The character only arrived in draft 4 and the twist in draft 5.<br /><br />I've heard it claimed that some can write great first drafts, but I've always been doubtful. Great writing mostly comes about from great revising, so Agatha Christie's extensive revisions don't surprise me in the least.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com