tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post4618984216117970422..comments2024-03-29T07:01:21.278-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Casual Guidelines for Mystery WritingJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-74269432271291596842013-05-14T16:11:57.894-04:002013-05-14T16:11:57.894-04:00Thanks, Elaine. Yes, character and the motivations...Thanks, Elaine. Yes, character and the motivations that are a part of character are the real key to plot. Sometimes I read a thriller that's bang-bang-bang with action, but you never care about the characters because you never get to really know them or why they're doing what they're doing. Big fail.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-13432049443677298382013-05-14T15:47:15.112-04:002013-05-14T15:47:15.112-04:00Great post, Linda! I especially love your reminder...Great post, Linda! I especially love your reminder that "the best plots rise out of character." Without characters, there can't be a plot. There can be an incident, but where would it go and why?Elaine Will Sparberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02678727606822464947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76807151061343486592013-05-13T16:29:56.238-04:002013-05-13T16:29:56.238-04:00Polly, I'm with you all the way. In my newest ...Polly, I'm with you all the way. In my newest book, Every Broken Trust, I had to fudge the architecture of the federal courthouse in Kansas City slightly. Now, I try to be very accurate about the Kansas City parts of my books, but I told the reader up front that I had taken artistic liberties with the courthouse for the sake of the story.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-51485908665554688832013-05-13T16:26:55.027-04:002013-05-13T16:26:55.027-04:00Kara, I think a twist is lovely--if it works seaml...Kara, I think a twist is lovely--if it works seamlessly without seeming forced. Better no twist at all than one that is visibly forced and distorts the story to make it come round right. So I think your "rule" is a good one.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-53398801782913096662013-05-13T16:24:41.702-04:002013-05-13T16:24:41.702-04:00Well, Bill, I do think Dame Agatha had her tongue ...Well, Bill, I do think Dame Agatha had her tongue firmly in cheek when she was saying all that. ;-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-22579089676107943322013-05-13T15:20:24.354-04:002013-05-13T15:20:24.354-04:00Oh, I so agree, Linda. What a wonderful post. I be...Oh, I so agree, Linda. What a wonderful post. I believe in flushing out my characters. Plots have been done...and done. Characters haven't, and that, for me, makes or breaks a novel. I want my characters interesting and complicated.<br /><br /><br />I did fudge a fact in my psychic suspense series. Unlike other cities, New Orleans separates their divisions. Homicide, for instance, is in the main police station, but I wanted my lieutenant to be in the French Quarter. I made that fact clear at the beginning, claiming creative license. Now no one can chew me out for getting my facts wrong. At least I hope not.<br /><br />Following rules make for a lot of books that sound alike. Don't be afraid to crack some eggs.<br /><br />Okay, this is the fourth time with capture code. Very frustrating.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-36419215250413544022013-05-13T13:50:57.055-04:002013-05-13T13:50:57.055-04:00Thank you for the excellent writing guidelines and...Thank you for the excellent writing guidelines and the reminder that nothing is set in stone, Linda. One rule I’m undecided about is whether there should be a twist or double-twist at the end of a mystery. I've read good books that became nbelievable do to the forced twist(s) at the end. On the other hand, I love it when I’m surprised by a clever and unexpected ending. Perhaps a better “rule” is to write a twist only if it enhances the story.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-86950220572507880832013-05-13T13:10:16.749-04:002013-05-13T13:10:16.749-04:00Christie herself had something to say about the im...Christie herself had something to say about the importance of research, spoken through her alter ego, Ariadane Oliver (in Cards on the Table):<br /><br />“I don’t care two pins about accuracy. Who is accurate? Nobody nowadays. If a reporter writes that a beautiful girl of twenty-two dies by turning on the gas after looking out over the sea and kissing her favourite Labrador, Bob, good-bye, does anybody make a fuss because the girl was twenty-six, the room faced inland, and the do was a Sealyham terrier called Bonnie? If a journalist can do that sort of thing, I don’t see that it matters if I mix up police ranks and say a revolver when I mean an automatic, and a dictograph when I mean a phonograph, and use a poison that just allows you to gasp one dying sentence and no more. What really matters is plenty of bodies! If the thing’s getting a little dull, some more blood cheers it up."Bill Peschelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15257587479467531187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-49144771438218798882013-05-13T12:45:11.980-04:002013-05-13T12:45:11.980-04:00Gloria, that kind of person (the new one who is so...Gloria, that kind of person (the new one who is so sure she's an authority) can be destructive to a writing group. Usually, they're more interested in showing off and dominating the group than in learning how to make their writing better.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-80596442109098029032013-05-13T12:08:10.683-04:002013-05-13T12:08:10.683-04:00The month before when the criticized woman showed ...The month before when the criticized woman showed up, she was so enthusiastic and read from the beginning of her romantic historical. It was supposed to be for a Christian audience, and when she got to the girl in the brothel and the tall incredibly handsome man, who paid to be with her and they started up the stairs, we all starting laughing. One of our writers, clapped her hands over her ears and said, "I don't want to hear any six scenes," but it was all done in such fun, and any comments made were not to hurt her. She joined for lunch and came back just as eager to be a part of our group. The newest woman talked loud with seeming authority. Rather daunting, in fact. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-59821960204491418752013-05-13T11:13:34.484-04:002013-05-13T11:13:34.484-04:00Jim, you're right. Look at Dan Brown. He break...Jim, you're right. Look at Dan Brown. He breaks all the rules of writing--and syntax and grammar. BUT he has millions of satisfied readers.<br /><br />Don't know that I want to go the Dan Brown route, but I'd love to channel some of his storytelling ability.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-70501714377432103542013-05-13T11:11:48.641-04:002013-05-13T11:11:48.641-04:00Oh, Gloria, isn't that always a problem that c...Oh, Gloria, isn't that always a problem that can show up in writing groups--the new person who wants to hold everyone to a bunch of writing "rules" in their own head? And so often, they turn out not to be very good writers, in large part because they're so rigid.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-26751965639092562062013-05-13T11:09:38.487-04:002013-05-13T11:09:38.487-04:00EB, I think your rule is the bottom line for myste...EB, I think your rule is the bottom line for mysteries. Things have to add up, especially motivation.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12720094961828925632013-05-13T11:00:32.189-04:002013-05-13T11:00:32.189-04:00The only rule is to make sure your writing works i...The only rule is to make sure your writing works in the way you intended--everything else is at best a guideline and at worst a hindrance.<br /><br />Of course if you break all the "rules" you may have an audience of one; but you at least should be satisfied.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-57172321875182078562013-05-13T08:56:55.513-04:002013-05-13T08:56:55.513-04:00Good blog, Linda. I agree with you.
It brought to...Good blog, Linda. I agree with you.<br /><br />It brought to mind what happened at our latest local writers meeting in which someone totally new to our group that day, criticized a very short piece brought in by someone who joined us for the first time the month before. This woman picks up greeting cards that interest her and writes a flash short about it. In this case, the picture was of a cowboy - only the legs, arms and hands holding a rope showing. We all thought her piece was interesting and nicely done, but the new person, who'd showed up that day, chastised her for writing "strong headed." According to her, it should have been strong minded or bull headed, she insisted. Several of us said that would be a bit of a cliche, but she insisted a new writer would never get a agent or publisher if she wrote something like strong headed. Obviously, this new person who showed up, clings to all the rules you mentioned, but not the ones you feel are the important ones. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-36379673989574027842013-05-13T07:07:06.306-04:002013-05-13T07:07:06.306-04:00The most important "rule" for me is that...The most important "rule" for me is that the facts add up to the murder. When the murderer is revealed, if the timing isn't right, the motivation seems "off," or characters who have been portrayed as honest lied to cover for the killer, then I feel cheated. To me, that's the most important element.<br /><br />One beef that I'll mention--I read a book recently that erred because not enough backstory was given. I know editors go nuts on redlining backstory, but I think that they have gone too far. The book was a page-turner, and yet when I finished I felt unsatisfied. I glanced off the book rather than sunk into it--all because the author didn't draw the reader in with the depth of backstory. Extremes aren't good. Writers have to stop listening to editors sometimes and listen to their story, feel their story and focus on it rather than--will this sell a million copies?E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.com