clues at the scene

clues at the scene

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Clockwork

At left, a photograph from Deutsche Fotothek in wikicommons.Roger Rossing is the listed photographer and of course, the work is stunning!

The photo of the watchworks was taken in 1950.

I love it when disparate elements in a story come together. I don't quite know how to summon this magic on demand; but, I enjoy it when it happens.

I'd prattle on about various techniques and my experience with their success and failure; but, there is something more important to read tonight.

I've experienced the look of disdain or disbelief when asked "what do you write?" and I answer commercial fiction or crime and mystery.

With dead bodies and stuff?

Sure.

I like to make the killer a sympathetic character.

Maybe they are not the only killers in the book. Sometimes I write about the after effects of being a killer and how life evolves around them. Sometimes I just write about killers in otherwise normal situations - like when you get a fillet-o-fish in the drive through after ordering a Big Mac. [ disclaimer - I haven't eaten at McDonald's in nearly a decade but there was a time ...]

Too much information. Too visceral. Too many bodies. Too gallows a sense of humor.

For those of us who enjoy genre writing and reading in any facet: here. I find this a wonderful essay.

Please visit Do Some Damage and read Alex Segura's great piece on his perspective.

Curb your dogma.

3 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I answer that question, "murder mysteries." The reaction that I see is what I'd describe as 'startled.' Then they always tell me their mothers read mysteries. :) Still...I think that 90% of the people who do still read, read commercial fiction. The numbers show it, no matter what the readers might say!

jack welling said...

Everybody who read thirty years ago still reads. My informal survey still shows three of six travelers in the airliner reading.

The number of people eating pastrami sandwiches with peppers on the plane is WAY up, however.

I love them image of the chat in the grocery line. I can't picture the shock and awe so clearly.

jack welling said...

Can picture

Bloody ipad