tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post8357573142571296790..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Plug and PlayLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-84842340048310011022007-11-05T17:15:00.000-05:002007-11-05T17:15:00.000-05:00Cricket, Welcome on board with a terrific first po...Cricket, Welcome on board with a terrific first posting. as for me, I write the same way Columbus sailed. We both set off for destinations unknown.Keith Raffelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926077627965529183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-66235449333127824782007-11-05T14:27:00.000-05:002007-11-05T14:27:00.000-05:00I have 67 books dealing the craft of writing, and ...I have 67 books dealing the craft of writing, and I've read them all. They are great for letting you know what are the elements of writing (a series for which I have a complete set). I believe anyone can write a novel using these guides, but that there is magical element out there that only allows a few select to write publishable novels, and still fewer to write novels that people will pay their hard earned dollars for. Those few have learned to listen to life and its rhythms, its ebbs and flows, what makes us truly scared in the dark or raises our hopes.<BR/><BR/>King and Lamott wrote books that keep me going long after my personal magic has faded, and Bickham's great "Scene and Structure" has taught me all I know to make that magic sit on the page.<BR/><BR/>-rickRick Bylinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493557860835710721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-19091327502292669822007-11-05T12:51:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:51:00.000-05:00Stephen King's On Writing is one of my staples, an...Stephen King's On Writing is one of my staples, and one I recommend to others. And the Elements trio (Elements of Style, Elements of Editing, and Elements of Grammar) always sits nearby. <BR/><BR/>I think much of what I mean by instinctive writing does indeed come from a deep familiarity with how stories work, gained from reading, reading, reading. <BR/><BR/>But a some definite structure doesn't hurt -- otherwise I spend WAY too much time rewriting.Cricket McRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786996969148417569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-91250270625142219162007-11-05T12:49:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:49:00.000-05:00I like King's book reasonably well, but my favorit...I like King's book reasonably well, but my favorite book on writing is Gary Provost's "Make Your Words Work."<BR/><BR/>I'm pretty much a seat of the pants writer, but the "formula" pretty much is:<BR/><BR/>1. Start off with something reasonably dramatic.<BR/><BR/>2. Give your main character a reason for being there.<BR/><BR/>3. Make your main character's life miserable.<BR/><BR/>4. Resolve all loose threads by the end.<BR/><BR/>I mean, it's easy, isn't it?Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-32990613899638618502007-11-05T12:39:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:39:00.000-05:00I agree with both g.m. and Mark. When I set out to...I agree with both g.m. and Mark. When I set out to write a mystery novel, the first thing I did was look up the lists of recent Edgar nominees and winners, buy them and start reading. That was my classroom and books on how-to.<BR/><BR/>The only reference books on my shelves are books on weapons, poisons, police procedures, forensics, serial killers, etc. Except, that is, for King's On Writing and The Courage to Write.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-71533932085296509662007-11-05T12:34:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:34:00.000-05:00I second the vote for ON WRITING by King. It doesn...I second the vote for ON WRITING by King. It doesn't take reading very far into his wonderful writing guide to understand why he has such a command of the English language. I would also suggest keeping a copy of THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by Strunk and White nearby. It's small enough to read in an afternoon with advice big enough to last a lifetime.<BR/><BR/>As far as developing stories, because I collaborate with Lynn Sholes, we have to plan our books out in fairly good detail. Not a lot of seat-of-the-paints writing for us or we'd still be drafting our first book instead of being halfway through our fourth.Joe Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00028401465567502250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-76961403692900673742007-11-05T12:26:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:26:00.000-05:00Cricket~I've always considered myself an "instinct...Cricket~<BR/><BR/>I've always considered myself an "instinctive writer." But that's probably not completely honest. I read alot and I think through osmosis I pick up on the elements of story telling.<BR/><BR/>That's why I always recommend that people that want to be writers take literature courses and not writing courses. I think you learn more by reading good literature/writing than analyzing it.Mark Combeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01270361794228887282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-28805105488844474392007-11-05T12:18:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:18:00.000-05:00Cricket - A lot of the how-to books take all the f...Cricket - A lot of the how-to books take all the fun out of writing. Most of the screenplay-writing books are like that.<BR/><BR/>Rather than read someone else's analysis, I'll go back and read a book, or watch a movie, that held me spellbound, and try to figure out why. <BR/><BR/>The only book on writing that I think is invaluable and must be kept on every writer's shelf is Stephen King's On Writing.G.M. Malliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805971625496094303noreply@blogger.com