Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 41

Walk That Talk by Gabriel Valjan

 

A query, an outline,and a synopsis walk into a bar, and a writer/bartender shoots themself.Publishers and agents often want one or all of these thinga-ma-jobbies. Anyadvice for writers who are flummoxed by how to create them?

 

I’d rather endure a visit to the dentist than write any ofthese items because they all sound like lingerie ads to me, or worse,descriptions for wine or perfume.

 

A refresher for those who don’t know the subtext. The queryletter should have a...

Hurdles to Publication

  

Q: A query, an outline, and a synopsis walk into a bar, and a writer/bartender shoots themself. Publishers and agents often want one or all of these thinga-ma-jobbies. Any advice for writers who are flummoxed by how to create them?

 

From Susan

 

I remember how high a mountain it seemed to write that query letter for the first book, how much advice, some of it contradictory, we got in classes and workshops and writing groups. Like most of us, I sweated bullets trying to be sparkly and smart and co...

Of dragons - and the human quest to dominate nature - by Harini Nagendra

 What is the most surprising book you’ve read in the last few years? 

This week's question is a tough one. As we all have, I've read so many books that moved me to tears, annoyed me, got me angry, feeling dejected, feeling positive - all shades of the rainbow. But what's been the most surprising? I had to think for a long while.

And then, when I got the answer, I was surprised - how obvious it seemed in hindsight.

So, dear readers, wherever you are - here is my most surprising recent read. Although...

A Secret Surprise from James W. Ziskin

What is the most surprising book you’ve read in the last few years? 

It took me some time to decide how I was going to answer this week’s question. Because the book that most surprised me in recent years was one I had little interest in reading. I didn’t know how to present the book without sounding condescending or dismissive about the subject matter.

Let me explain. I’m not a fan of comics. I don’t read them and I don’t watch movies about superheroes or anyone traipsing around or swinging above ...

Moved by THE HELP

What is the most surprising book you’ve read in the last few years?

by Dietrich

It’s hard to boil it down to just one book, but here goes . . .

While I loved the movie, The Help, it wasn’t until some time later I read the book by Kathryn Stockett, and wow, I was blown away. It was such a treat to read, a balance of hope, courage, with a good mix of humor.

It’s powerfully written and set in 1962 Mississippi, turbulent times indeed. The story looks at women subjugating women, inequality and civ...

Surprise!

 

Terry here, with an interesting question this week: What is the most surprising book you’ve read in the last few years? 
 I read so much that I thought it would be hard to choose. In thinking about this question, I wondered whether it means the most surprisingly good book or the most surprisingly bad book. Whether it means I was surprised that a writer I considered pedestrian came up with a gem of a book—or vice versa, if someone who I thought of as a stunningly good writer laid an egg. 
I decid...

Surprising Reads

 What is the most surprising book you’ve read in the last few years?

Brenda

This question is a thinker. I usually like to have a crime fiction novel on the go, but I belong to a book club, and our choices range far and wide. I'll therefore pick from both categories.

I suppose in the 'surprising' crime fiction category, I'd have to go with Denise Mina's standalone Conviction. I'd read many of Mina's books, my favourites including her Paddy Meehan series, but Conviction is original and a departure fr...

How To Fall in Love With Your Work, by Josh Stallings

Q: What hooks you into an idea enough so that you want to write it? Character, setting, plot, genre? Or …?

A: Anything I’ve ever written that I felt was of value, came from a place of pure intuition. My most intricate and well laid out plans inevitably led me to drivel. I wish that wasn’t true. If I knew how to come up with the big idea and then write it, I would. Just isn’t how my process works.

What pulls me into an idea? I am attracted to writing about worlds and genres I haven’t done befor...

Fizzy Pips, by Catriona

What hooks you into an idea enough so that you want to write it? Character, setting, plot, genre? Or …?

Definitely "Or . . ." for me. 

Well, genre is a given. I've spoken before about the unpleasant experience of not writing a crime novel: in short, I found out that my time-travel caper was women's fiction (because I was a woman, I think) except it wasn't quite there yet so it needed to be changed and softened and clipped and packaged until I was scared I'd end up publishing a book I wouldn't read...

What Hooks you? by Eric Beetner

 What hooks you into an idea enough so that you want to write it? Character, setting, plot, genre? Or …?

I have often told other writers not to take anything from my method of working in the early stages of a book. I know it’s silly. You see, I tend not to write down the amazing ideas I get. I’m sure I have lost many certain best sellers to this technique, but I like to let things roll around in my head for a while. If it’s still there weeks or months later, I know I might be on to something.

Let’...