Saturday, April 1, 2023

What We're Writing Week - Julia Tapdances

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: We all know many writers are self described as pantsers - composing without outlines to guide them. I prefer the term writing organically, because that's how it feels to me: one character or event leads to another and so on and so forth until four years later soon you have a novel.

 

But whether one writes "like driving at night in the fog," as E.L. Doctrow said, or meticulously plans and plots every twist and tune in advance, every writer wrestles with the same weird and magical process: taking an idea and turning it into a story. 

 

Maybe the idea is the world's best logline: Jurassic Park, except with sharks (MEG, by Steve Alton.)

 

Maybe the idea is an amazing character: a confused teenager with Asperger's Syndrome (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.)

 

Maybe the idea is a totally out-of-the-world premise: What if people and literary characters could move in and out of books in a Great Britain still fighting the Crimean War in the 21st century? (The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde.)

 

 

 

Great ideas are all around us.  Heck, I've produced a dozen brilliant business ideas in the past decades that only fail because 1) I have no idea how to implement them and 2) I tend to forget them immediately after telling one of my kids about, say, a service that rents dogs to stressed people.

 

 

 

The jump between having an idea and having a story involves speculation, pushing and prodding the facts, research, stretching the idea like Silly Putty with a picture pressed into it, weighing what's interesting and will open up new avenues for exploration, and what, instead, is a dead end. For some writers, this messy process takes longer than actually producing the words that make up the manuscript.

 

So now I have to confess that I'm not, at the moment, talking about what I'm doing with AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY. What I'm talking about is Make Your Own Murder, an event I'm taking part in - right now, if you're reading this after 1pm EDT! - at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine campus in Portland. It's the baying crowd eager-to-learn attendees versus three mystery authors: me, Kate Flora, and Richard Cass. We'll be taking suggestions from the crowd for plot ideas, setting, and characters, and from that, we're supposed to spin out a story synopsis  - within two hours. 

 

Since we set our plows in different fields - I write traditional, Kate is doing the Joe Burgess police procedurals, and Dick is well-known for his noirish private eye series about jazzman Elder Darrow - it's going to be very interesting to see how we work when harnessed together. I'll let you all know how it went in the comments later this afternoon (how much later depends on whether we go out for drinks afterwards...)

 

Do you have experience spinning a single idea (or two) into story gold, dear readers? And have you ever seen/ participated in an "authors making $#%! up on the fly" event?

JULIA: I'm finally home at 5pm, and I'm utterly wiped out! Dick and Kate and I had so much fun, and the almost-overflowing crowd did as well, with lots and lots of great suggestions coming from the audience, back-and-forth about how and why authors make certain decisions about character, setting, motivation and plot lines, and (very flattering to the three of us) lots of book sales through Maine fave Kelly's Books To Go

We settled on, I think, several characters based on names and occupations the audience had written down. We drew names first, then settings, because we all agreed where the story was taking place was the next more important thing to who was in it. We decided on the Moosehead Lake region (featuring a foggy swamp) populated by an elegant antiques dealer, a judge, a new-age spiritual guru (and con man,) a wastewater plant supervisor, a clinical social worker, a Finnish-American pathologist and a Mi'kmac trout farmer/Maine guide. 

Over the course of two hours (less, really, with all the asides) we showed the audience how the sausage was made. We killed off the sewage treatment guy first, and then changed the social worker from the detective to the second victim. We decided the antiques dealer was in it with the "shaman," providing fake Indian relics to sell, and later decided she was married to the judge, and having an affair with her partner in crime.

The pathologist went from being a possible killer to the protagonist, as she tried to discover the parent who abandoned her when she was an infant. Surprise, it was the judge! The big action sequence at the end was when she saved the judge from the real killer...

his wife, the antiques dealer, who was trying to off him for his money. The only thing we didn't get to was what I would definitely put in: a burgeoning romance between the pathologist and the aquaculturist/ Maine guide. 

This doesn't begin to cover the various motives - everyone wanted someone dead! - or the discussion over frying pan versus antique rifle as the murder weapon. Honestly, it wasn't a bad start to a book - I'd tackle it if I wrote as fast as Jenn or Rhys!

It definitely got my creative juices flowing, and I can highly suggest going to any similar event if one turns up near you. (The OLLI director was so impressed, she wants to make it a regular offering every semester.) I wish you all could have been there with us!

67 comments:

  1. What a marvelous-sounding event, Julia . . . it sounds like an amazing experience; I'm looking forward to learning how it all worked out . . ..

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  2. I wish I could be there - what a great pair to do it with. "Mystery Making" is one of Sisters in Crime New England's most popular offerings from the Speakers' Bureau (which I believe Kate founded long ago). I think Hallie and Hank were on the "making" end at a Crime Bake some years back - drop dead hilarious.

    I've been part of several, including at the Boston Book Festival one year and last fall in CT, and they are so fun for the authors and the audience. Have a blast!

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    1. I've done it once before, Edith, though I can't for the life of me recall where. I do remember laughing a LOT.

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  3. The event sounds interesting. I've done something similar when a concept is told to us and we had to create a storyline behind it.

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  4. Julia, that event sounds like great fun! I would love to see it but won't drive to Maine this morning, although it's tempting. However, Edith did one in Connecticut? There is no town in this state more than 1-1/2 hr drive from me. (Sigh) If you plan one of these at Crimebake, I want to be in the room where it happens!

    I don't believe I've seen one of these with authors, but on TV I did see some madcap improv that was hilarious.

    Julia, like all of your fans here, I eagerly await your next book.

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    1. Judy, we talked about it after the fact (I was like half an hour from you). So sorry my announcements about it didn't make their way onto your radar! Next time, for sure.

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    2. Now I remember. If you are going to be in Connecticut or anywhere in MA near the CT line, give me a heads up.

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    3. We ought to have some sort of New England Mystery alert hotline!

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  5. What a fun sounding event. I will eagerly look forward to your comments afterwards. I'd love to be there, but it's along swim from Portugal.

    The title of your new book already has me hooked. I'll look forward to that, too, when it's published.

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    1. Elizabeth, I'll swap you the event for Portugal - and swimming, if its warm enough there! I've been to most of Europe but not "Lusitania," and I'm dying to visit.

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    2. Definitely not swimming weather yet. But do visit Portugal. I think you would enjoy any city. But Braga hàs a wonderful Roman festival (May 17-21st this year) to celebrate it's Roman history.

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    3. Ooh, good to know. I am a total nut over Roman history.

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  6. At some past Bouchercon I was at a panel when four authors were doing just what you describe. It was fascinating, hysterically funny, and I was thoroughly entertained. Have fun with it today. You’ll be the leader of the pack I bet. Xo

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    1. Yes, that might have been the Reds. (Or someone who copied us...) And I have done it many many times..always to much hilarity. And every time, just when we all think it's going off the rails, ONE idea brings it all together. It's very instructive.

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  7. Julia, I'm pretty sure we Reds did a panel like this at the Tampa Bouchercon, right? Then go back home and write please:). we are all waiting!

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    1. THAT'S where I've done this before! I couldn't recall it completely. Yes, with the suggestions in baskets. It was hysterical - although we could have used a firm hand to keep us on track...

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  8. Oh, if only I weren't at the other end of the State. What a fun concept. Love to be there to see it unfold. Enjoy, Julia!

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  9. Enjoy your panel!

    The Writers Who Kill bloggers wrote a novella, Broken Hearted Killers, published a chapter a day in February 2023. We threw everything in our toolbox at our individual chapters--I, of course, threw in a reference to toxic plants.

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    1. Margaret, we've kicked around the idea of doing something similar at JRW. The problem is, half of us are too busy with multiple books and appearances, and the other half are sloooow writers.

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  10. Julia, enjoy your panel! Look forward to hearing about it. I do not know if I can access it?

    Have I ever spun a single idea into story gold? I used to be able to do that when I was a young child. Not sure if I can still do that. Since I am taking an online writing course< I have been developing my story step by step. It is quite challenging.

    Though I am great with ideas, I notice that I have to stay with the idea in order to expand on it. At university, my professors had to remind me to stay on track. LOL.

    Diana

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    1. Diana, I suspect I have never-diagnosed ADD, and while it has made it difficult for me to stay on track, it's great for generating new ideas - like a dog chasing squirrels, my brain is happy when it's bouncing from what-if to maybe-then.

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  11. I agree, "The jump between having an idea and having a story" is the thing in writing. But sometimes it works theater way. I get hooked on a situation and need to start writing it before I realize what the *idea* is. If I never find the idea, then I don't have a novel. It makes it a whole lot easier to talk about and sell later (and for reviewers to talk about) if there's a STORY.

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    1. Hallie, love “theater way”, so hoping this phrase is not a spell- corrected version of “ the other way.” Elisabeth

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    2. I love it, too! I move we all start referring the process of having to write to figure out what the story is as "the theater way." Which makes sense, since its in working with a character than an actor figures out who the character is.

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    3. SO agree. I was hoping it was the "theater" way. Start with an idea, practice, say it, edit it--see what person inhabits it.

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  12. This sounds like a lot of fun! Your audience is in for a treat, for sure. I've had characters come to me in dreams that have worked themselves into a story. Except for one--she came in a dream and now she won't 'talk' to me. I keep trying, but so far that story's not going very far.

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    1. That comment above is from Flora.

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    2. Flora, I've had that happen and its weirdly frustrating. You know there's something there, but the apple won't shake out of the tree.

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  13. Sounds like great fun! It will be interesting to hear what you come up with!

    Your story brings to mind a workshop on songwriting that I attended many years ago at the Vancouver Folk Festival. We watched and listened to Si Kahn write a song in about 15 minutes (I believe the topic was suggested by the audience). It was pretty amazing.

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    1. Hank Phillippi RyanApril 1, 2023 at 10:44 AM

      I was at an event, some years ago, where the poet Robert Pinsky did just the same thing. It was astonishing. I mean seriously, a gorgeous poem, just off the top of his head. Based on a word – – zebra – – that an audience member shouted out.

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    2. That amazes me. It's one thing to have an extremely basic outline of a plot; creating a fully formed work in front of an audience is something else entirely.

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  14. However, you get your ideas Julia they always turn out to be wonderful. That’s kind of… Trusting the process, right? The idea arrives when the time comes. (I tell myself that every day.)
    The other day, a writer friend called, all, frantic, saying she could not figure out the next steps of her idea.
    In about 10 seconds, I came up with, I have to say, I’m pretty fabulous solution. Can I do that for myself? Nope nope nope .
    I love doing those making a mystery panels! Have fun, and may the ideas flow!

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    1. Hank Phillippi RyanApril 1, 2023 at 10:42 AM

      Rats. I forgot to put my name. But could you tell it was me anyway?

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    2. Hank whether as an author, a commentor, a speaker or a reporter, you have a VERY distinctive voice!

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    3. HA! And do you see how dictation adds weird commas throughout? SO BIZARRE!
      Corrected version:
      However you get your ideas, Julia, they always turn out to be wonderful. That’s kind of… Trusting the process, right? The idea arrives when the time comes. (I tell myself that every day.)
      The other day, a writer friend called, all frantic, saying she could not figure out the next steps of her idea.
      In about 10 seconds I came up with, I have to say, a pretty fabulous solution. Can I do that for myself? Nope nope nope.
      I love doing those making a mystery panels! Have fun, and may the ideas flow!

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  15. This sounds like it would be fun for all concerned! I'm looking forward to reading about it later. For some reason I am reminded of a quote about someone's book review. They didn't care for the book because they thought the author was "making it up as he went along."

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    1. I guess if the reviewer felt things didn't hang together I could see saying that, Judi. It's just odd, because I suspect MOST fiction is made up as the writer goes along!

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    2. Well, it kinda has to be, right? It just depends on WHEN they make it up.

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  16. Julia, in answer to your questions at the end, No and No. But I can’t wait to hear how it works out!
    Like Judy, I live in Connecticut but I’m down south, by the shore. If one is done again in Connecticut, I’d love to go. Except if it’s at night. Cataracts are keeping me from night driving. (Otherwise, I would go to night events at RJ Julia.)

    DebRo

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    1. I have to start thinking of a way this could be made to work on Zoom or Crowdcast, DebRo. You shouldn't have to all be in the same room to make it work.

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  17. What an exciting idea!
    I look forward to your update.

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  18. Julia, I can't wait to see how this turns out! It's always more fun to riff off other writers' ideas than your own, somehow.

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    1. It kicked off with the first name: Amanda Lovemore. You can just imagine...

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  19. Coming up with ideas on the fly! Exciting. I've always thought that ideas were the gold of a story, something to excavate or discover, and the prose is how that gold is polished.

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  20. Harlan Ellison could do that, sit down at a typewriter in front of a group and produce a perfect full blown story. I'm told Isaac Asimov used to do that. I knew them both, but never witnessed that.

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  21. Can't wait for the recap. I bet this was a hoot! I do love plotting with others but then it's a bit of a let down to write the novel alone. *sigh*

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    1. One of the audience asked if it was always this much fun. If only!

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  22. Sounds like fun! Even without drinks involved.

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    1. We decided it would have been TOO much fun (and maybe not as fast paced) if there had been drinks during, Pat!

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  23. It sounds like challenging fun! I could use a good storyline right now. I seem to have spun out for a while!

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    1. Priscilla, I gave a summary on the front page, so go right ahead and use it, if you want!

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  24. The recap is on the front page, for those of you waiting to hear how it went. I only wish I had taken pictures of the lists of names, occupations, setting, motives and murder weapon as they went up!

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  25. I gotta tell you, Julia, I could hardly focus on anything else after I saw that comic imprinted Silly Putty. Lordy, we were easily entertained when I was a kid. I loved doing the Silly Putty and comics transfers. I cannot explain why I thought it was so much fun. Can you imagine giving a kid the Sunday comics out of the newspaper (wait, first you'd have to explain to them what a newspaper is and then check to see if it still carries the Sunday comic spread) and telling them to have fun.

    I did, of course, manage to regain my focus to read the rest of your article, Julia. And, by the time I got to this paragraph you'd added more. The three of you authors along with the audience's help writing a story sounds like lots of fun. I will have to read back your description of the characters' fates again to try to get it straight. And, what a great bonus of selling your all's books, too.

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  26. Love the recap, Julia! What a hoot. Now someone should write it!

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  27. Wonderful story telling! Thank you, Julia, for taking all of us along on the journey! Elisabeth

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  28. Love how this turned out. What immense fun! Thanks for taking us along, Julia.

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  29. Sounds like a very fun event. Wish I could have been there.

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