tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post6922567672150297404..comments2024-03-26T15:49:05.333-07:00Comments on Criminal Minds: Another Fine MessJosh Stallingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-88463556154218504612016-02-20T05:17:59.914-08:002016-02-20T05:17:59.914-08:00Thanks, Stephen. And I think you hit the nail on t...Thanks, Stephen. And I think you hit the nail on the head. When we read other things we don’t intentionally or consciously steal anything, but through some kind of osmosis it filters through us and once it’s down on paper it’s in our voices. Besides, you know what they say, Good artists borrow, great artists steal. I’ve seen this attributed to too many people to name one here, but that sort of proves the point, doesn’t it?Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-51316039209494703212016-02-19T21:47:45.662-08:002016-02-19T21:47:45.662-08:00Paul,
I read crime fiction even when writing a my...Paul,<br /> I read crime fiction even when writing a mystery. When I write my PI novels I write in the first person. During that time I like to read other author's first person. It keeps me thinking about how say things, what not to say and just keeps me in that first person frame of mind. I don't intentionally steal anything but I think subconsciously I absorb some style and voice. But when it's down on the paper it's my own voice.<br /> Good post. <br />- Stephen Buehler Stephen Buehlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03153352677424095494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-69360089057607909952016-02-19T15:07:33.627-08:002016-02-19T15:07:33.627-08:00Thanks everyone for your comments. Sorry I didn’t ...Thanks everyone for your comments. Sorry I didn’t respond sooner.<br /><br />Good luck with your novel, Evelyn. I know what you mean about wanting to read so much that you don’t get the work done.<br /><br />Thanks, Art. I think, as you say, movies do have a different structure and timing. But I think those can be translated into prose form and certainly can be one means of inspiration for us.<br /><br />That’s a good method, Gayle, reading before and after the 8s. And good writing does help us to strive to be better ourselves. And the bad writing, well, it gives us things to avoid. Stick with Sammy’s sentiment, it’s the only way to be.<br /><br />Susan, I think we are consciously or subconsciously influenced by other writers. Someone said, can’t remember who, that everybody’s first novel tries to be Hemingway, or something along those lines. But we just have to take what inspires us and make it our own, I think. And you and your writing are definitely okay! I think everyone here is, from what I can tell. :)<br />Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-72330629243792154102016-02-19T11:38:25.445-08:002016-02-19T11:38:25.445-08:00It's been thought-provoking to read my fellow ...It's been thought-provoking to read my fellow Minds' responses to the question this week. I think most of you are more confident than I was when I began my first book. And, while I'm getting there, I still set aside a few authors whose voices are enough like what I'm striving for to tempt me, however unconsciously, during that critical first draft. It's not that any of us would deliberately copy. It's that we admire those other writers' talent and success. But I'm okay now, 4 and a half books in!Susan C Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18225627756540127032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-37789639408009473552016-02-19T11:20:32.683-08:002016-02-19T11:20:32.683-08:00I read in the morning before eight o'clock and...I read in the morning before eight o'clock and in the evening after eight o'clock. Usually other people's work doesn't influence me at all. When it does it comes in two forms: 1. Don't EVER write that badly. 2. Try to be that good. But I don't want to be like somebody else. As Sammy Davis Jr. sang: I gotta be me.GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-48885670129252499932016-02-19T11:04:31.842-08:002016-02-19T11:04:31.842-08:00Good point about movies here too, Paul. I often fi...Good point about movies here too, Paul. I often find that watching a movie sparks something in me about storytelling, about what I'm working on, in a different way than reading does--the structures of scenes, the timing, I don't know what.<br /><br />Enjoyed reading, as always!<br />Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-29386501328184653342016-02-19T08:45:19.453-08:002016-02-19T08:45:19.453-08:00Very thoughtful. I'm writing a first draft cr...Very thoughtful. I'm writing a first draft crime novel and have sworn off reading fiction, mostly because I love reading s much I'm afraid I'll just read and not get any writing done. I still do read a lot of non-fiction. Thanks Paul for the insights.Evelyn Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12882459807311789522noreply@blogger.com