tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post306490077060408927..comments2024-03-24T15:04:27.557-04:00Comments on Type M for Murder: Guest Post: Sarah M. ChenBarbara Fradkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06992196707567972990noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-65306627478198712562016-12-12T12:21:05.621-05:002016-12-12T12:21:05.621-05:00Oops, I meant to say "try not to treat as it ...Oops, I meant to say "try not to treat as it as gospel." Travis Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921123586885981804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-39616163277047658882016-12-12T11:11:53.082-05:002016-12-12T11:11:53.082-05:00I agree, Travis, on having to stick to writing rul...I agree, Travis, on having to stick to writing rules. It's helpful to know them, but if it's going to hinder my creativity or work against my story, then I have no problem changing them. Elmore Leonard's rules really speak to me and I agree with a lot of them (although I break several of his too). Thanks for the read and comment, Travis!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-13449223601077271552016-12-11T16:38:49.722-05:002016-12-11T16:38:49.722-05:00I've had a few how to "write books",...I've had a few how to "write books", but rarely finish them. I've also been to workshops and talks. Like Paul, I bristle whenever I hear unbreakable rules about writing. Creativity demands flexibility. I listen/read advice, but I try to treat it as gospel. Travis Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921123586885981804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-43032756663979776082016-12-11T12:13:09.390-05:002016-12-11T12:13:09.390-05:00Yes, I think you nailed it. You take in what you c...Yes, I think you nailed it. You take in what you can whether it's classes, books (both books on writing as well as reading fiction), articles, blog posts, and mold it into something that works for you. Then it becomes your own. What's the saying? You have to know the rules before you break them. Thanks for the read and comment, Paul! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-57174826584352990742016-12-11T04:59:07.610-05:002016-12-11T04:59:07.610-05:00Good stuff, Sarah. And I think it’s good to have a...Good stuff, Sarah. And I think it’s good to have a basis in basic writing techniques. For me it was also screenwriting, which is a good way to learn structure. And I have a bunch of writing books. Some of which I’ve looked at, some which sounded good at the time, but which I haven’t cracked open. I think we take what we can from classes, writing books, crime fiction (and other fiction) and melt Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-31478219478600947162016-12-10T12:44:55.990-05:002016-12-10T12:44:55.990-05:00Yes, I heard Kris Neri's class was really help...Yes, I heard Kris Neri's class was really helpful and worthwhile. That's the one I had my eye on. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-389651214565039762016-12-10T12:39:26.366-05:002016-12-10T12:39:26.366-05:00I started writing my mystery first, then realized ...I started writing my mystery first, then realized I could use some advice so I started reading books. Then I took Kris Neri's online mystery class through UCLA extension and G. Miki Hayden's online class. I think I benefited from trying to write something first before taking the classes. They were both well worth it.Sybil Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931984219413146614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-18495680387910531692016-12-10T12:09:17.375-05:002016-12-10T12:09:17.375-05:00Makes perfect sense to me, Sybil! I wish I could m...Makes perfect sense to me, Sybil! I wish I could muster the energy to read books on writing. I'm sure I would benefit, but it's just not in me! I think the screenwriting courses helped and I took a creative writing course in grad school (my favorite class and it was an elective). I intended to take a UCLA extension course on mystery writing when I first started out (I took one years Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30210943.post-53247822150162444792016-12-10T11:54:04.138-05:002016-12-10T11:54:04.138-05:00I'm one of those people who have a slew of boo...I'm one of those people who have a slew of books on writing and I've actually read a lot of them! I admit there are some that people have recommended that I can't get through, but most I find useful. Maybe that's because I never took any writing classes in college so, when I started writing, I figured I could use some words of wisdom. Being the nerd that I am, I turned to books.Sybil Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931984219413146614noreply@blogger.com