tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post4133457820130628891..comments2024-03-28T11:55:00.428-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: What television taught me about writing, by Kait CarsonJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-35545867632273597292018-03-24T16:29:40.951-04:002018-03-24T16:29:40.951-04:00Like Jim, I'd rather read a book than watch TV...Like Jim, I'd rather read a book than watch TV anymore although I did buy a new one today. I loved the Downton Abby series and hated it when they ended. When I do watch TV it's mostly PBS. I like the Father Brown shows although most of them are reruns, but since one night a month I go to one of my book clubs I miss it. I bought a book by the author of Father Brown at a book store while on vacation that dealt with old books. I've been slowly reading a short Father Brown story at a time upstairs when I go to bed. There have been a few mystery series on PBS I liked, too. I like PBS because of the very few commercials and the good shows.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-20763656714636418322018-03-24T16:19:18.491-04:002018-03-24T16:19:18.491-04:00Oh, how I loved Downton, especially the early ones...Oh, how I loved Downton, especially the early ones, before my favorite character (Lady Sybil) died. I, too, found Season three's pace frenetic, and now it makes sense since they had to tidy up story lines before the actors left.<br />I feel sorry for my husband when we watch mystery tv shows, because if something strikes me I go "A ha!" and he goes, "what? what? wait, don't tell me!" Watching tv while thinking like a writer can spoil the fun, so I try not to.<br />We love Father Brown and Murder in Paradise (only the first couple of seasons - if you binge watch Paradise avoid the episode descriptions - there are huge spoilers in them).Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-18194154390968771012018-03-24T16:06:52.920-04:002018-03-24T16:06:52.920-04:00So true, KM. Do you find that it is easier to see ...So true, KM. Do you find that it is easier to see certain things in a visual medium? I was surprised to discover it was for me. I wasn't prone to binging, this was a first, now, bring it on!Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-48427604374705903802018-03-24T16:05:07.594-04:002018-03-24T16:05:07.594-04:00Sounds great, E.B. I will have to check it out - w...Sounds great, E.B. I will have to check it out - we don't get Hulu, but I suspect it will show up elsewhere after a respectful period of time! Amazon is a likely culprit. I agree we didn't have "tv" for years, only signed on to DISH this year when the price dropped so low. The only thing we watch is the weather channel and I do admit to an HGVT addiction. Other than that, it's Netflix or Amazon Prime. <br /><br />Murdock sounds familiar--did it originate elsewhere?Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76941551719163105242018-03-24T15:42:13.147-04:002018-03-24T15:42:13.147-04:00I don't watch much TV, but I recognize the sim...I don't watch much TV, but I recognize the similarities (and differences) to written work. In many ways, a good story is a good story, whether presented as written, shown in a visual manner, or told by a skilled storyteller. KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-64417480727458469022018-03-24T14:18:42.973-04:002018-03-24T14:18:42.973-04:00The way you are watching, is the only way I will w...The way you are watching, is the only way I will watch TV. Regular shows on the networks bore me. The commercials drag out the plots, which are too often bogus. We are watching the Murdock Mysteries on Hulu right now. Murdock is set in Canada during the late 1800s--early 1900s. Murdock is scientifically advanced using and creating crime scene techniques to catch killers. The pathologist is a woman of equal acumen. Their boss is a good old, Irishman who loves his drink despite the new-age teetotalers. It's a lot of fun, but is also graphic. I think you would enjoy it, Kait. E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-41993777598528059302018-03-24T13:08:59.174-04:002018-03-24T13:08:59.174-04:00OK, Warren, we're not letting you off that eas...OK, Warren, we're not letting you off that easily. Dish. What's Justified?Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-25157498413541059832018-03-24T13:08:21.240-04:002018-03-24T13:08:21.240-04:00Exactly, Grace! Sometimes it seems to be easier to...Exactly, Grace! Sometimes it seems to be easier to learn from a visual medium and a condensed one. There's too much opportunity to lose a bit of a thread in a novel when sleep finally overtakes. In a movie, the entire arc is all of a piece. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-45995200120858861552018-03-24T13:05:22.674-04:002018-03-24T13:05:22.674-04:00Margaret - I have to check out George Gently, I am...Margaret - I have to check out George Gently, I am often accused of a cast of thousands and I would love pointers on narrowing the standing field. Sounds like you binge with an ulterior motive, too! I wish I still had my Landlubbers - and my Pucci....sigh. Never lucky enough to own a Quant.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-47504702103504365852018-03-24T12:49:19.996-04:002018-03-24T12:49:19.996-04:00I used to love "Justified" from a writin...I used to love "Justified" from a writing POV.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-84554197863879774922018-03-24T09:30:06.845-04:002018-03-24T09:30:06.845-04:00As a fan of mysteries and now that I've writte...As a fan of mysteries and now that I've written one, I've become very analytical about what happens in the story. As my husband and I watch a PBS mystery, I point out things to him that I think have relevance to the plot and then predict who I think the murderer was. Frequently I'm right. I've learned to be fair with the reader and plant clues, but to bury them with other material so they don't stand out.Grace Toppinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10291304815273486038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-65442414663297839852018-03-24T09:03:56.320-04:002018-03-24T09:03:56.320-04:00We're binge-watching George Gently DVD's f...We're binge-watching George Gently DVD's from the library. Martin Shaw brings incredible depth to his north of England police inspector character. And the clothes and music from the sixties are hilarious.<br /><br />I've analyzed Gently's character arc and learned how to plot using a minimum of characters. I've learned how to use historical events (coal strikes) to shape a plot. I've learned how to use body language to make a character three-dimensional.<br /><br />Now that we're nearing the end, I've learned how to use a main character's secret to heighten tension.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-62043675648313261522018-03-24T08:43:19.228-04:002018-03-24T08:43:19.228-04:00In most cases, I agree with you, Jim. PBS brings s...In most cases, I agree with you, Jim. PBS brings something special to the table though in historicals. It is unusual to find them putting a foot wrong and the lack of commercials allows uninterrupted immersion in the era. Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-9256271950589610052018-03-24T05:11:19.252-04:002018-03-24T05:11:19.252-04:00I readily admit to the value of watching televisio...I readily admit to the value of watching television for insight into modern conventions. However, I’d rather read a book. It wasn’t always that way, but as many people do as they age, I find myself concentrating on the things I enjoy the most to the exclusion of stuff that is just okay from my perspective.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com