tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post8184894794245277587..comments2024-03-28T19:36:39.783-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Where Do You Begin?Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59469907744013662892021-12-13T17:06:56.818-05:002021-12-13T17:06:56.818-05:00That is exactly what I meant by "how the stor...That is exactly what I meant by "how the story is told." Irwin and I both appreciate good prose and we love the "Britishisms" that you use, Debs. The prose in "Crawdads" didn't do it for me. Thus libraries and bookstores.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16128026892155650398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63808548519689813432021-12-13T16:53:08.321-05:002021-12-13T16:53:08.321-05:00Oh Debs, I so need to make that trip. COVID has in...Oh Debs, I so need to make that trip. COVID has interfered with life big time. And when I do, it’s your turn to come to Melinda’s on Lake Dallas/Lewisville/Shady Shores. Annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7534437810599220262021-12-13T15:11:18.305-05:002021-12-13T15:11:18.305-05:00When I open a book and start to read, I want to kn...When I open a book and start to read, I want to know <i>where I am</i> and <i>what is happening </i>. So, either immediate action or sense of place, whether that be a forest, closet or crowded street. A character described is okay if it leads to action, place or relevant conversation, such as a plea for help.<br /><br />On the other hand, who could resist something like “The steaming spaghetti should have stayed on the plate.” Where could that lead? Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14226697735158120702021-12-13T14:48:50.558-05:002021-12-13T14:48:50.558-05:00Julia, your titles are always terrific!Julia, your titles are always terrific!Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89946648429450770012021-12-13T14:37:42.300-05:002021-12-13T14:37:42.300-05:00That’s a first line that would make me stop readin...That’s a first line that would make me stop reading the book. If it had been “It was one hell of a night for a murder" I keep going for certain.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58880290689385166162021-12-13T14:32:35.214-05:002021-12-13T14:32:35.214-05:00Julia’s titles are always great. Cover art is impo...Julia’s titles are always great. Cover art is important too. If I don’t have a cover image, the title needs to intrigue me all the more, and I like the more “old fashioned “ titles like The Vanishing Island Mystery or Murder In the Morning. Honestly, most of the punnish cozy titles don’t interest me, so then it becomes do I already like the author.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6256344131796739572021-12-13T13:33:41.207-05:002021-12-13T13:33:41.207-05:00I don't think good prose necessarily equates w...I don't think good prose necessarily equates with too much description or flowery writing. I just mean writing that uses words effectively--and correctly, by god! If there is awkward grammar, unless it's dialogue, I am out.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25933118028945681202021-12-13T12:44:04.634-05:002021-12-13T12:44:04.634-05:00I'm with you Jenn, more interested in voice th...I'm with you Jenn, more interested in voice than beautiful prose. Though it's a treat to get both in one book isn't it?Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11389937222184307962021-12-13T12:27:32.932-05:002021-12-13T12:27:32.932-05:00I like to at least meet the victim once before the...I like to at least meet the victim once before they die so I have some concept of who they are. But there's no hard and fast rule. Barbara Ross's Fogged Inn (at least I believe that was the book) has the body drop in the first line of the book. It worked perfectly for that book (and isn't something she does all the time). Miranda James and Donna Andrews often don't have the body show up until page 100, but they have so much conflict and are using the time to set up suspects and motives that it works for them. It is a matter of what works best for the story.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67156122871169700692021-12-13T12:08:51.684-05:002021-12-13T12:08:51.684-05:00I am more drawn to voice than prose. In fact, if a...I am more drawn to voice than prose. In fact, if a book is too prosy, I'll generally pass. Life is too short (for me) to read a three page description of the snow falling. I remember Mary Higgins Clark saying that being a technical writer her helped her to be a better suspense writer because she learned to change "she glided across the room like a swan across the pond" to "she walked". LOL.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34752593744183380752021-12-13T12:06:34.646-05:002021-12-13T12:06:34.646-05:00Happy to help, Judy! :)Happy to help, Judy! :)Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8721345955851830052021-12-13T12:05:54.816-05:002021-12-13T12:05:54.816-05:00Same! I don't want to read from the point of v...Same! I don't want to read from the point of view of pet no matter how cute they are.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91573306368462938762021-12-13T12:04:18.288-05:002021-12-13T12:04:18.288-05:00As an avid mystery reader, how soon do you think t...As an avid mystery reader, how soon do you think the body should be introduced? I struggle with this.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17745744108207616162021-12-13T12:02:57.012-05:002021-12-13T12:02:57.012-05:00I'm a first line cheater and usually start wit...I'm a first line cheater and usually start with dialogue. :)Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86687362524771781312021-12-13T12:02:28.713-05:002021-12-13T12:02:28.713-05:00Driving is always a fabulous place for me to get i...Driving is always a fabulous place for me to get ideas - difficult to write them down, tho. LOL.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44365207751921909302021-12-13T12:01:30.107-05:002021-12-13T12:01:30.107-05:00Exactly! A well developed character really will do...Exactly! A well developed character really will do the heavy lifting if you let them.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1515034382124379152021-12-13T12:00:53.172-05:002021-12-13T12:00:53.172-05:00So true, Flora! My books constantly surprise me ev...So true, Flora! My books constantly surprise me even when I think I have it all nailed down.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73643875351905737432021-12-13T11:36:51.692-05:002021-12-13T11:36:51.692-05:00As soon as I had hit Publish it came to me that wh...As soon as I had hit Publish it came to me that what I do with a new author is to read the inside flap. I so agree, Julia, I do not have time to continue with a book I am not loving. As it is I am afraid I might run out of life before I run out of all the good books I want to read!Judihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06777683026890358953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74048190125355062332021-12-13T11:29:01.986-05:002021-12-13T11:29:01.986-05:00Yes, to both. In fact, I think that's the answ...Yes, to both. In fact, I think that's the answer to Judy's question about Where the Crawdads Sing, above. The prose was compelling to me. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91928102957890100612021-12-13T11:13:47.255-05:002021-12-13T11:13:47.255-05:00I think it's interesting that no one has menti...I think it's interesting that no one has mentioned prose or voice, two of the things that will draw me into a book and keep me reading.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31399447347002411692021-12-13T11:08:48.125-05:002021-12-13T11:08:48.125-05:00I wish you'd get back to Texas for a visit, An...I wish you'd get back to Texas for a visit, Ann! You and Julie! We could have drinks on the patio at Rick's Chophouse again!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85276477033722928912021-12-13T10:59:26.915-05:002021-12-13T10:59:26.915-05:00And Jess Lourey and Lori Rader-Day are going to be...And Jess Lourey and Lori Rader-Day are going to be the toastmasters! Which will be awesome. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54140570095488906582021-12-13T10:54:54.053-05:002021-12-13T10:54:54.053-05:00I'd love that, Grace. I can't remember the...I'd love that, Grace. I can't remember the last conference where the Reds and Reds-adjacent identified each other by a sticker or something on their badges. That was fun. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90628946414446644112021-12-13T10:43:45.405-05:002021-12-13T10:43:45.405-05:00Titles will get me to pick up a book but not neces...Titles will get me to pick up a book but not necessarily purchase it. It's the book synopses and scanning the first couple of pages that will tempt me buy a new-to-me author. Books written by authors I like make it easier to just pick the book and take home. What can turn me off an author that I've enjoyed is when the series makes a radical turn with no warning. Deana Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093854261937772980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29278460700910480142021-12-13T10:43:28.960-05:002021-12-13T10:43:28.960-05:00Me too, Julia. When I need to work through a tric...Me too, Julia. When I need to work through a tricky scene I drive around and talk it out. The very act of being shut away seems to clear my mindAuthorrhysbowen@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844065473614874365noreply@blogger.com