Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 169

Do as I Say, Damn It!

Have you ever written fan fiction? A pastiche? Tell us about that. If not, did you start out writing derivative fiction before finding your own voice? And you can tell us about that, too.
From Jim

I’ve never written fan fiction. Nor have I written any pastiches. But many years ago, as I was searching for a voice and style of my own, I did try to write in the style of other writers. It was a failure and very bad idea.

So, since I haven’t written fan fiction or pastiches, and since I do not today...

Finding what works

Have you ever written fan fiction? A pastiche? Tell us about that. If not, did you start out writing derivative fiction before finding your own voice? And you can tell us about that, too.
by Dietrich
I’ve never taken a popular character from an original work and created a story from that. And I haven’t purposefully tried to imitate another writer’s style, although there are plenty of authors who’ve inspired me to write. I like to make up my world and characters, yet the new book I’m working on...

My own stories, my own voice

By R.J. Harlick
Have you ever written fan fiction? A pastiche? Tell us about that. If not, did you start out writing derivative fiction before finding your own voice? And you can tell us about that, too.
Though like Brenda, I’m not exactly certain what ‘fan fiction’ is or ‘a pastiche’, I can safely say that I have never written any kind of fiction other than my own.  I have never tried to copy someone else’s writing style or based my stories on another author’s.
For me, writing is all...

Using My Voice

by Brenda Chapman

Question: Have you ever written fan fiction? A pastiche? Tell us about that. If not, did you start out writing derivative fiction before finding your own voice? And you can tell us about that, too.
While I’m notentirely sure what constitutes fan fiction or a pastiche, I am confident in saying that I’ve never written either. As for derivative fiction, which is writing derived from another source, I wrote some poetry in university that could qualify as part of assigned writing e...

Jealous, who me?

Which crime fiction author are you insanely jealous of and why? by Paul D. Marks, Robert D. Kidera, Travis Richardson, Wendall Thomas
I wish I had thought of Catriona’s title, Premise Envy for this post. I have title envy over that one

Premise envy

"What crime writer are you insanely jealous of and why?"

by Catriona

Well, for one thing - any jealousy really would be insane. With apologies (because I've said this before), we're not in competition with one another. A writer writes one, maybe two, at most three books a year and many crime-fiction aficionados read three novels a week. Our fellows writers are allies, keeping readers hooked on mysteries until our next one comes out.

Of course, sometimes we really are in competition with one anot...

Awe vs envy...a study in green? by Cathy Ace

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The Green Monster

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Who Do You Love?

Q: Which crime fiction author are you insanely jealous of and why?
-from Susan
A: I suppose I could be jealous of a great many. But I learned long ago that if I compare myself to others in this tribe, I am likely to come up short every time – no awards, no NYT bestsellers, no long-running series, no throngs of adoring fans…
So here I am in my aromatherapied, yoga-induced, chocolate-sated frame of mind, neither insane nor jealous but deeply admiring of some crime writers for different reasons:
Jim...

Tricks of the Trade

Real life happens around us while we play in the imaginary ones we create. How do you keep yourself in the writing zone and out of the ruts? Are there tricks to staying focused, especially at this time of year?
From Jim

Writing a book is hard. Distractions everywhere. The family! The friends! The housework and meals! Holidays are the worst! And KIDS? You spend twenty years sacrificing your dreams and breaking your back raising the whining little mucus makers, then they grow up and disappoint yo...