Your Personal Inspiration? - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T11:49:27Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:59069?x=1&id=537324%3ATopic%3A59069&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi, another newbie too.
I can…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-13:537324:Comment:1407212008-05-13T00:46:43.034ZSimon Averyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/SimonAvery
Hi, another newbie too.<br />
I can pinpoint where I turned to 'a life of crime', as it were. Up until 1999, I was writing weird fiction - slipstream, horror, SF tinged stuff, which had suited me well for the ten years or so that I'd been writing it. But I remember talking to a writer friend, who said that he thought I'd reached a bit of an impasse with my writing.<br />
By coincidence I'd been by his place near this time and he'd lent me a copy of Derek Raymond's 'I Was Dora Suarez'.<br />
Now, I'd read some…
Hi, another newbie too.<br />
I can pinpoint where I turned to 'a life of crime', as it were. Up until 1999, I was writing weird fiction - slipstream, horror, SF tinged stuff, which had suited me well for the ten years or so that I'd been writing it. But I remember talking to a writer friend, who said that he thought I'd reached a bit of an impasse with my writing.<br />
By coincidence I'd been by his place near this time and he'd lent me a copy of Derek Raymond's 'I Was Dora Suarez'.<br />
Now, I'd read some crime prior to this as my dad has been a lifelong crime reader, but 'Dora Suarez' seemed to blow my mind wide open. This was crime fiction, but like nothing I'd ever read before in the genre. Grim, angry, violent, metapyhsical... All of these things and more. After that I devoured the rest of Raymond's excellent 'Factory' series and produced my first crime story, 'Leaving Seven Sisters', which I freely admit was greatly in debt to the late Mr Raymond.<br />
And I've never looked back. Reading that book changed the style I wrote in. Or certainly opened up new vistas for me. So yeah, everyone should seek out 'I Was Dora Suarez'. It is phenomenal. I read the Nancy Drew, Hardy…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-11:537324:Comment:1404482008-05-11T01:17:21.855ZTom Cookehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/TomCooke
I read the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boy's books, but I was also strongly influenced by the popular media of my day, radio. There was, The Shadow, Bary Craig, Sam Spade, Casey Crime Photographer, The Falcon, Phillip Marlow, Richard Diamond, Dick Tracy and a whole slew of hard boiled heroes that I can't remember. I think the first writer that absolutely knocked my socks off was Max Shulman, a satirist from the middle of the last century. The first thing I read of his was BAREFOOT BOY WITH CHEEK.
I read the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boy's books, but I was also strongly influenced by the popular media of my day, radio. There was, The Shadow, Bary Craig, Sam Spade, Casey Crime Photographer, The Falcon, Phillip Marlow, Richard Diamond, Dick Tracy and a whole slew of hard boiled heroes that I can't remember. I think the first writer that absolutely knocked my socks off was Max Shulman, a satirist from the middle of the last century. The first thing I read of his was BAREFOOT BOY WITH CHEEK. When I moved to Virginia, I l…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-11:537324:Comment:1404452008-05-11T01:11:53.521ZPatrick Balesterhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PatrickBalester
When I moved to Virginia, I lived near a large wildlife refuge near the coast, called the Great Dismal Swamp. I quickly fell in love with the place and spent many hours hiking it's trails, discovering it's history, photographing it's wildlife and flora, and at times, get lost in it.<br />
<br />
I knew there was a story here, and I wanted to tell it. After a couple of years of thinking and outlining, I wrote a mystery novel about it, called <i><b>In the Dismal Swamp</b></i>, my first novel.<br />
<br />
That place has…
When I moved to Virginia, I lived near a large wildlife refuge near the coast, called the Great Dismal Swamp. I quickly fell in love with the place and spent many hours hiking it's trails, discovering it's history, photographing it's wildlife and flora, and at times, get lost in it.<br />
<br />
I knew there was a story here, and I wanted to tell it. After a couple of years of thinking and outlining, I wrote a mystery novel about it, called <i><b>In the Dismal Swamp</b></i>, my first novel.<br />
<br />
That place has inspired me, and I still draw inspiration from it, although I now live in Kansas City, halfway across the country. I hope you do sell it by the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-08:537324:Comment:1402282008-05-08T06:05:06.981Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
I hope you do sell it by the way. You sounded inspired to me. I think it takes us a long time to really get down to serious writing. Curt, it took me half of my life! but now's the thing. NOW is relevant. THEN was.
I hope you do sell it by the way. You sounded inspired to me. I think it takes us a long time to really get down to serious writing. Curt, it took me half of my life! but now's the thing. NOW is relevant. THEN was. I may be violating the rules,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-08:537324:Comment:1402062008-05-08T00:22:53.886ZD. C. Hawkinshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CurtDaniels
I may be violating the rules, but hey this is a crime writers forum. I actually have two equally important inspirations. The first was my very last writing assignment in high school. I absolutely hated writing before that and by all rights a throw away assignment of "write an autobiography" should not have changed my opinion. On a whim, I examined my life by looking at the wheels involved at each stage, e.g. baby stroller, tricycle, pedal car, etc. It was by far the best piece I had written to…
I may be violating the rules, but hey this is a crime writers forum. I actually have two equally important inspirations. The first was my very last writing assignment in high school. I absolutely hated writing before that and by all rights a throw away assignment of "write an autobiography" should not have changed my opinion. On a whim, I examined my life by looking at the wheels involved at each stage, e.g. baby stroller, tricycle, pedal car, etc. It was by far the best piece I had written to that time, but the important thing was I had fun. It is very hard to hate something that is fun. Fast forward many years. The second inspiration came from one of those self-realization moments. In February I happened upon the Writers Digest online workshops. I read over the description of their "Essentials of Mystery Writing Workshop" and realized that I had wanted to write a mystery for over 30 years and that I needed to jump in and get started or I would never really do it. I signed up then completed the workshop. Last night I finished the first draft of my first short story. I hope I can sell it, but even if it never sells, I have written it. One single thing? That's diff…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-07:537324:Comment:1401652008-05-07T17:27:10.845Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
One single thing? That's difficult. I was a huge fan of film noir--all the 1940's greats in particular. I suppose that was my motivation for then reading those novels that those wonderful films were based on. I've been writing crime fiction for the past year and I love it. My favorite novels are set in the past: 1930's to 1950's. If I could, I'd slip into a Raymond Chandler novel and be Phillip Marlowe's gal friday or his special confidante. I'd keep his appointments and always stay late at the…
One single thing? That's difficult. I was a huge fan of film noir--all the 1940's greats in particular. I suppose that was my motivation for then reading those novels that those wonderful films were based on. I've been writing crime fiction for the past year and I love it. My favorite novels are set in the past: 1930's to 1950's. If I could, I'd slip into a Raymond Chandler novel and be Phillip Marlowe's gal friday or his special confidante. I'd keep his appointments and always stay late at the office if he needed me! I was influenced first and fo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-06:537324:Comment:1400782008-05-06T19:21:52.699Zlen howletthttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/lenhowlett
I was influenced first and foremost by visuals, both movies and early tv. Being an old guy I saw things like 'Boston Blackie', 'China Smith' with Dan Duryea, and 'The Whistler' on tv. But then I happened to catch older movies than I was, also on tv. I went to see 'The Petrified Forest' in the theater, and was also impressed with'High Sierra' and 'The Big Sleep' and 'Casablanca' and mostly Bogart. I think I wanted Lauren Bacall more than anything else. And if she was the kind of girl a wiseguy…
I was influenced first and foremost by visuals, both movies and early tv. Being an old guy I saw things like 'Boston Blackie', 'China Smith' with Dan Duryea, and 'The Whistler' on tv. But then I happened to catch older movies than I was, also on tv. I went to see 'The Petrified Forest' in the theater, and was also impressed with'High Sierra' and 'The Big Sleep' and 'Casablanca' and mostly Bogart. I think I wanted Lauren Bacall more than anything else. And if she was the kind of girl a wiseguy detective or a desperate fugitive got, then I wanted in. And I spread that gospel, too. Awhile back, I heard my older son's wife say while he was channel surfing, "Go back, go back, that was Brad Pitt." And he said, "So what?' She said, "Whatta you mean, so what? He's beautiful." My son said, "Yeah, and Humphrey Bogart was butt ugly, but he was ten times cooler than Brad Pitt." She paused for awhile and then said, "Yeah. You're right." Bogart/Phillip Marlowe/Duke Mantee/Rick in the white tuxedo jacket. As for a single scene, it would have to be from 'Beat The Devil' when somebody, maybe Peter Lorre says, "It seems like the whole world's going up in smoke," and Bogart replies, "Yeah, and not a moment too soon." Case closed, Shweetheart. I also read the Nancy Drew an…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-06:537324:Comment:1400612008-05-06T15:40:20.456ZAlexandria Ayershttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/shutterbug20
I also read the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I was collecting them for a time. My mom also read them as a kid..<br />
<br />
I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who was hooked on those books..
I also read the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I was collecting them for a time. My mom also read them as a kid..<br />
<br />
I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who was hooked on those books.. I work in Corrections, and al…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-05-06:537324:Comment:1400582008-05-06T15:38:45.883ZAlexandria Ayershttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/shutterbug20
I work in Corrections, and all my life I have always wanted to be in Law Enforcement of some kind. I have always held a fasanation for anything that involved solving a crime or investagating someone or something. I have a pretty natural knack for it. So I have always been drawn to the Murder and Mayhem type of books, or the ones that involve some type of crime.
I work in Corrections, and all my life I have always wanted to be in Law Enforcement of some kind. I have always held a fasanation for anything that involved solving a crime or investagating someone or something. I have a pretty natural knack for it. So I have always been drawn to the Murder and Mayhem type of books, or the ones that involve some type of crime. I never liked reading until m…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-02:537324:Comment:597292007-08-02T05:16:26.406ZSheri Fresonke Harperhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sfharper
I never liked reading until my sister brought home a mystery, so they've been a long time fascination. The science part came from a teacher that told us it was our duty to help solve world problems, that at age 11. Since I've started writing I find that cool facts and data give me ideas that give me stories that give me questions and it doesn't stop. I keep plugging away trying to rid myself of ideas. :-) Sheri
I never liked reading until my sister brought home a mystery, so they've been a long time fascination. The science part came from a teacher that told us it was our duty to help solve world problems, that at age 11. Since I've started writing I find that cool facts and data give me ideas that give me stories that give me questions and it doesn't stop. I keep plugging away trying to rid myself of ideas. :-) Sheri