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G. Patrick Johnson
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- Manitou Springs, CO
- United States
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G. Patrick Johnson's Discussions
how soon to kill the first one?
Hollywood has certainly changed the rules for readers. Let's face it, many readers have the attention span of a TV show, and are tuned into story beats via the way in which a TV show or movie plays...
Replied Oct 15
What do you do when you discover a notable writer has already covered your plot?
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Every post provides sound advice, and echoed the little voice inside of me telling me to rally forth. I really didn't want to bog everyone down with the details ...
Replied Oct 15
What do you do when you discover a notable writer has already covered your plot?
13 Replies
One time or another, I’m sure this has happened to everyone who writes. You come up with a great idea, a compelling idea; an idea you are absolutely certain is a fresh angle on the crime fiction ge...
Started this discussion. Last reply by Morgan St. James Nov 15.
What are Ross MacDonald's best books?
I am currently reading all of Ross MacDonalds books in order to study his style. I really enjoyed Find a Victim, thought Drowning Pool was "okay", and I am presently reading The Wycherly Woman whic...
Replied Oct 4
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I definitely say go ahead and write your book. There are so many similarities in books today, it is mind boggling. It really depends upon how you write it. You've read Mosley's book, so don't make yours a clone of his. Different characters react t...
Unless your plot is similar to a famous high concept, i.e., "An aquaphobic sheriff moves to a small town and must contend with a man-eating shark," you're probably good. 100,000 words gives you a lot of leeway.
As they say, there's nothing new under the sun, and that especially goes for book plots/themes. What makes it unique is the way YOU write it, so write it, make it yours, make it special. Don't let the similarity of the stories stop you.
It's according to how close it is. There are so many people writing and publishing today that it is more probable that someone will write your "plot" than not. But even though a plot is similar, or even exact, you can still write it.
I still reme...
Hollywood has certainly changed the rules for readers. Let's face it, many readers have the attention span of a TV show, and are tuned into story beats via the way in which a TV show or movie plays out. I believe that makes many writers feel that ...
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Every post provides sound advice, and echoed the little voice inside of me telling me to rally forth.
I really didn't want to bog folks down with the details of the plot because I felt it distracted from the lar...
It is virtually impossible to end up with the same book as another writer's. There are too many separate parts involved. For me, plot is not terribly significant in the first place. Should I ever find myself with the same plot idea as another, all...
Yes, as publishers, we'll all know Mosley's book, but what you're describing are only the broadest of similarities -- there's a huge amount of room in the plot, characters, atmosphere (the 70s aren't the 40s, after all), style, etc. to make yours ...
Your setting in the 1970s will make it sufficiently different, your style will make it your own, an oblique reference or two to Devil in a Blue Dress will delight the readers who've read it and, if you like, signfies that you're aware of it as a l...
Or you could just jump on the Obama bandwagon and do it with the presidential election as the setting. That way you could stick to the racism angle, which, I suspect, is your real driving force here; the world beats up on the poor, black underdog,...
What do you want to do? I say, do that. Writing isn't just for the masses. It's for us, too.
MK
www.minervakoenig.com
Any book set in L.A. in the late '60s/early '70s that didn't contain at least some discussion of race issues probably wouldn't ring very true-to-life. I think as long as you're not doing 1st person from the POV of a black detective living in Watts...
Profile Information
- Hometown:
- moving from Los Angeles to the mountain town paradise of Manitou Springs, CO.
- About Me:
- I clawed my way up from the American underbelly of dark and dangerous places to taste the sweet smell of success. Triumph was fleeting. After crashing once again back into dark and dangerous places, I am humbled, wiser, and write about it through the genre of noir fiction.
I'm presently in the process of writing a story of crime, corruption, and racism set against the backdrop of the 73' Tom Bradley mayoral election.
- I Am A:
- Reader, Writer
- Books And Authors I Like:
- Ross MacDonald
Walter Mosley (Wow! Just wow!)
Jim Thompson
Megan Abbott (she has transcended the "formula")
James Ellroy (shattered the rules with American Tabloid & Cold Six Thousand)
Kinky Friedman (crime fiction CAN be funny; especially when it involves the Village Irregulars)
- Movies And TV Shows I Like:
- Classic movie person with a special affection for gritty 70's detective movies, blaxploitation, Spaghetti Westerns, cheezy hot rod flicks from the 50's and Russ Meyer-type kitsch......
Comment Wall (5 comments)
- At 2:14am on October 14, 2009,
Reece Hirsch said… - Hi Patrick -- Thanks. I really like your idea of setting a crime story against the backdrop of the Bradley election. Best of luck with it. Reece
- At 7:39am on October 10, 2009,
Mike Dennis said… - You came to the right place. You'll do fine. It's a great site.
- At 3:59pm on October 9, 2009,
Mike Dennis said…
- Glad I drew a response, Patrick. Are you going to Bouchercon next week?
- At 6:01am on October 8, 2009,
L. A. Starks said…
- Manitou Springs is beautiful. My aunt lived in Divide for a while.
- At 12:38am on October 5, 2009,
Dan Coleman said…
- Welcome, Patrick,
Anything in particular you're writing now that one might read?
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