tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post3099714893475563502..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Advice From Sue GraftonLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-25264948439537159982011-05-12T15:48:54.598-04:002011-05-12T15:48:54.598-04:00Okay, I'm understanding this better. I think s...Okay, I'm understanding this better. I think seasoned authors can and should get away with more chance taking. Lois is right about formula writing. <br /><br />Maybe Sue was also preparing her fans for what's to come after Z.<br /><br />-RobinRobin Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373722202559066388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-37815978604509235092011-05-12T15:36:22.118-04:002011-05-12T15:36:22.118-04:00Kathleen, I took Sue's advice to mean not to g...Kathleen, I took Sue's advice to mean not to get complacent. Too many authors find a formula that works for them and never veer from it. After a while every book starts to read like the previous one. There are many authors I've stopped reading for this reason. Some readers like the comfort of knowing exactly what they're going to get book after book after book by their favorite authors, but I think that becomes boring, both as a reader and a writer.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-19660918248728167032011-05-12T13:44:30.162-04:002011-05-12T13:44:30.162-04:00Kathleen, great post! I'm a big Grafton fan, a...Kathleen, great post! I'm a big Grafton fan, and I think her comment was to challenge yourself, too. What an amazing treat to see her speak!Jessie Chandlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17963009962065255242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-8566391967940416972011-05-12T12:51:46.455-04:002011-05-12T12:51:46.455-04:00"Don't let yourself go stale" - that..."Don't let yourself go stale" - that's a great summary! And after all, isn't that what keeps writing fun? If we're not bored, our readers (we hope) won't be bored either.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-17663003095135427842011-05-12T12:48:56.972-04:002011-05-12T12:48:56.972-04:00Kathleen- I took the comment to mean "keep pu...Kathleen- I took the comment to mean "keep pushing the envelope and don't let yourself go stale as an author." I can buy into that. It sounds like you have too.<br /><br />Good post!Darrell Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394984700734588887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-2643517037682708692011-05-12T11:53:36.291-04:002011-05-12T11:53:36.291-04:00Robin, she didn't really elaborate on that poi...Robin, she didn't really elaborate on that point, which I think is why it keeps circling in my brain. I suspect she meant we shouldn't be afraid to take chances, or to try something new. It might not work, but it also may work brilliantly.<br /><br />I think of some of my favorite writers who have taken risks, such as killing off a favorite character, or switching to a new point-of-view mid-series, or taking a break from a bestselling series so they could try writing a stand-alone. They were willing to take a risk and try something that might not be as successful for them as their earlier work had been.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-69825905022536597182011-05-12T11:19:04.742-04:002011-05-12T11:19:04.742-04:00I'm not sure I understand what it means to wri...I'm not sure I understand what it means to write to the edge of your talent. Does it mean writing a book when you normally write short stories? Or is Sue talking about letting your creativity have its way? Did she elaborate in her talk?Robin Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373722202559066388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-12382716126198522132011-05-12T11:14:22.135-04:002011-05-12T11:14:22.135-04:00Thanks, Beth!Thanks, Beth!Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-65256181821037230372011-05-12T10:52:41.586-04:002011-05-12T10:52:41.586-04:00Great advice from Sue Grafton, Kathleen, but from ...Great advice from Sue Grafton, Kathleen, but from your writing history, I think you're already taking it to heart.Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.com