tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post4104034042191012000..comments2024-03-29T11:42:44.511-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: What Is It?Jim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-91800135671137826172013-11-13T04:47:05.053-05:002013-11-13T04:47:05.053-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-91462417730789776612013-11-13T04:47:04.293-05:002013-11-13T04:47:04.293-05:00Thanks so much, Kara and Polly. No, I'm not go...Thanks so much, Kara and Polly. No, I'm not going to change what I like about the novel, but I am going to listen to what my beta readers say. Changing it will strengthen it. I'm not writing it for myself (although that is debatable). If my beta readers didn't understand or felt confused by it, then it's not enjoyable to read, which means I must change it or it won't be published. An enjoyable product for public consumption, rather than my own enjoyment, is the professional goal. I want it fun, but I want it read! Thanks.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-1504728827546085412013-11-12T22:01:25.739-05:002013-11-12T22:01:25.739-05:00At first I was going to say why not market it as a...At first I was going to say why not market it as a cross-genre. Then I thought, don't say mystery at all, call it a suspense novel. I've always found "Suspense" covers a lot of territory. I'm a "Don't Fence Me In" writer, but if you like your book the way it is, leave it that way. Playing with it now could ruin what you love about it.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-8845292706376765662013-11-12T21:53:28.011-05:002013-11-12T21:53:28.011-05:00Dean Koontz writes hard to categorize novels that ...Dean Koontz writes hard to categorize novels that are a mix of genres (supernatural, thriller, romance, horror, sci-fi) so you are in good company. Toasting Fear sounds intriguing and I look forward to reading your book however it is categorized.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-16852414806724018002013-11-12T10:51:49.029-05:002013-11-12T10:51:49.029-05:00The problem of the market is one issue. But there ...The problem of the market is one issue. But there is a problem with the script--one of perspective. Written as a mystery, the reader is as in the dark as the protagonist--which isn't the case in my book. Although the protagonist is aware of the angels and demons, she isn't privy, like the reader, to what happens in the other realm so the reader really isn't in the dark like the protagonist in the mystery. Due to this, I must write the book from a different perspective. No, I don't want my book pigeon-holed, and yet one beta reader was annoyed because she knew too much, while another beta reader want to know more about the plans for the protagonist from the other realm, which puts me exactly in the middle--one part is mystery, the other is thriller/suspense. It has to be one or the other, not both. That's a frustration to the reader.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-56242736138890971692013-11-12T10:49:02.427-05:002013-11-12T10:49:02.427-05:00I think a mystery writer can write a wonderful thr...I think a mystery writer can write a wonderful thriller. Just remember the lines from Shakespeare in Love:<br /><br />Philip Henslowe ( Geoffrey Rush ):<br />"Strangely enough it all turns out well."<br />Hugh Fennyman ( Tom Wilkinson ):<br />"How?"<br />Philip Henslowe ( Geoffrey Rush ):<br />"I don't know. It's a mystery."<br />Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-30451731202565615962013-11-12T10:45:36.523-05:002013-11-12T10:45:36.523-05:00Yes, Carla, but boxes are there whether of not we ...Yes, Carla, but boxes are there whether of not we want them to be--so off to another round of revisions.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-75488295905989485952013-11-12T10:03:48.984-05:002013-11-12T10:03:48.984-05:00A frustrating problem. Agents say they want "...A frustrating problem. Agents say they want "something different," but then when your work doesn't fit in a specific predetermined niche, they say they can't sell it.<br /><br />I think you should just write what you want to, and if it doesn't fit in with someone else's definition of what it should be, so what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-73630745556604774182013-11-12T10:00:12.823-05:002013-11-12T10:00:12.823-05:00E.B. I agree with Shari that you shouldn't wor...E.B. I agree with Shari that you shouldn't worry too much about fitting a market. Just write the story you want to tell. I know that makes it harder to get an agent or publisher, but if it's a story that keeps a reader reading, it will find a market no matter what they decide to call it. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-20821741641772583962013-11-12T09:48:31.615-05:002013-11-12T09:48:31.615-05:00Maybe you've just invented a new genre, E. B.,...Maybe you've just invented a new genre, E. B., or maybe just call it fiction. I don't like this "writing to fit a market" stuff either. I just want a story that keeps me up at night, turning the pages.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-56224128415201743552013-11-12T09:36:16.256-05:002013-11-12T09:36:16.256-05:00I can emphasize with you. It's frustrating to...I can emphasize with you. It's frustrating to write elements of romance, horror, humor and coziness which enrich a work and then to try to shove it into a cubbyhole so booksellers know where to shelf it.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-24851815117010938742013-11-12T09:07:35.084-05:002013-11-12T09:07:35.084-05:00This can be a real source of frustration. Your nov...This can be a real source of frustration. Your novel is what it is--then you have to find the right box to fit it in! I understand why, but it doesn't seem quite right. carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-78531366150985790712013-11-12T07:22:48.363-05:002013-11-12T07:22:48.363-05:00I'm sure glad you reminded me about the fun, J...I'm sure glad you reminded me about the fun, Jim. I had fun in its writing, which doesn't always produce a professional end result, but it isn't a cookie-cutter book. I think the book is a fun read, even if it deals with child abuse (twenty years in the past) and a woman who fights back. Conforming to conventions is a must or no one will publish it. Thanks for reminding me about fun. I needed that.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-89247536572770066732013-11-12T05:55:02.419-05:002013-11-12T05:55:02.419-05:00Some writers have their characters take over a sto...Some writers have their characters take over a story; others have the story take over the story. By that I mean that the story a writer set out to tell is not the one that wanted to be written. Sounds like that has happened to you, E.B.<br /><br />Best of luck in the re-write process. It can be both frustrating and fun, so do try to find the enjoyment.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com