A murdered woman in the first chapter of my novel-- - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T13:20:17Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:64036?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A65256&feed=yes&xn_auth=nonot two cents at all! heartfe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-22:537324:Comment:658752007-08-22T15:45:21.896Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
not two cents at all! heartfelt, wise advice coming from someone who is PUBLISHED! i agree. not pages and pages. thanks! great analogy. sank in!
not two cents at all! heartfelt, wise advice coming from someone who is PUBLISHED! i agree. not pages and pages. thanks! great analogy. sank in! I'm going to be different and…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-22:537324:Comment:658732007-08-22T15:43:06.730ZJeannie Holmeshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/jkholmes
I'm going to be different and say that flashbacks can be useful in a crime story -- if done correctly.<br />
<br />
Flashbacks shouldn't continue on for pages and pages. A couple of lines or maybe a paragraph or two. I used the occasional flashback in my first novel to develop character relationships (mainly a romantic subplot) and reveal info about a character's past that was necessary for the story to move forward. Forward motion is the most important part to remember about flashbacks. I tend to think of…
I'm going to be different and say that flashbacks can be useful in a crime story -- if done correctly.<br />
<br />
Flashbacks shouldn't continue on for pages and pages. A couple of lines or maybe a paragraph or two. I used the occasional flashback in my first novel to develop character relationships (mainly a romantic subplot) and reveal info about a character's past that was necessary for the story to move forward. Forward motion is the most important part to remember about flashbacks. I tend to think of flashbacks in this manner:<br />
<br />
Character A is driving a car to the Destination, which is the end of the book and solution to the mystery. The road is filled with other cars and characters traveling to the same Destination. Character A must arrive before any of the others. Therefore, Character A must occasionally drift into the left lane and pass some of the other cars, but before changing lanes, Character A may want to consider checking the rear view mirrors. A quick glance is all it takes and then Character A's attention returns to the road in front of him/her.<br />
<br />
If you feel that a flashback is necessary for the story to move forward, allow the character a quick glance (rear view mirror) and then get back to the current situation.<br />
<br />
There's my 2 cents on the subject, for what they're worth. Good luck! :) you're good. i admire you bec…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-22:537324:Comment:657432007-08-22T07:12:05.300Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
you're good. i admire you because, i would find it hard. but then again, your published!
you're good. i admire you because, i would find it hard. but then again, your published! I've stuck with first person,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-21:537324:Comment:656462007-08-21T23:04:24.165ZEric Stonehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/estone888
I've stuck with first person, present tense - except for the big chunk of book three where it is past tense, but works its way back to present tense.<br />
<br />
At the moment I'm working on a stand alone that is third person, past tense, but from three different characters' point of view. That's been fun.
I've stuck with first person, present tense - except for the big chunk of book three where it is past tense, but works its way back to present tense.<br />
<br />
At the moment I'm working on a stand alone that is third person, past tense, but from three different characters' point of view. That's been fun. very good. I keep trying diff…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-21:537324:Comment:656272007-08-21T21:55:30.153Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
very good. I keep trying different tenses as well. but at some point i have to decide on one thing and go with it! so what did you do in the end?
very good. I keep trying different tenses as well. but at some point i have to decide on one thing and go with it! so what did you do in the end? Yep, although my books are in…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-21:537324:Comment:655742007-08-21T19:55:56.591ZEric Stonehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/estone888
Yep, although my books are in first person present tense. I wrote the first one in past tense - "I walked into the room...." and then just for fun tried changing it around to present tense and it just seemed to pick up the pace considerably when I did that. I don't know that it works for everything, but it worked pretty well for me.
Yep, although my books are in first person present tense. I wrote the first one in past tense - "I walked into the room...." and then just for fun tried changing it around to present tense and it just seemed to pick up the pace considerably when I did that. I don't know that it works for everything, but it worked pretty well for me. when you say present tense do…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-21:537324:Comment:655522007-08-21T19:05:50.973Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
when you say present tense do you mean :<br />
he walks into the room. he picks up a magazine as opposed to<br />
he walked into the room, he picked up....?
when you say present tense do you mean :<br />
he walks into the room. he picks up a magazine as opposed to<br />
he walked into the room, he picked up....? I don't see why not. I usuall…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-21:537324:Comment:655502007-08-21T19:02:31.927ZEric Stonehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/estone888
I don't see why not. I usually write in the present tense. In my third book I played around with opening it in the present tense - the first chapter - leaving the reader hanging at the end of that - and then switching over to the past tense - not getting back to the present tense until about two-thirds of the way through. I was worried that it wasn't going to work, but my agent, who's a plenty critical reader, liked it just fine. I figure there aren't any hard and fast rules. If we can't have…
I don't see why not. I usually write in the present tense. In my third book I played around with opening it in the present tense - the first chapter - leaving the reader hanging at the end of that - and then switching over to the past tense - not getting back to the present tense until about two-thirds of the way through. I was worried that it wasn't going to work, but my agent, who's a plenty critical reader, liked it just fine. I figure there aren't any hard and fast rules. If we can't have fun with our writing, why are we doing it? It's not technical manuals, after all. yes. couldn't agree more, Eri…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-21:537324:Comment:653732007-08-21T10:41:41.166Zcarole gillhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PhyllisDietrichson
yes. couldn't agree more, Eric. the letters came after i decided (because of this discussion!) that i wouldn't use flashbacks. i would have tips through letters, but more from what people tell him.<br />
But you can begin a novel say six months previously and then go into the action. right? getting paranoid now
yes. couldn't agree more, Eric. the letters came after i decided (because of this discussion!) that i wouldn't use flashbacks. i would have tips through letters, but more from what people tell him.<br />
But you can begin a novel say six months previously and then go into the action. right? getting paranoid now It doesn't sound like you nee…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-20:537324:Comment:652562007-08-20T23:54:11.091ZEric Stonehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/estone888
It doesn't sound like you need any flashbacks. I'm not sure if a character reading a letter that provides information about the victim, qualifies as a flashback anyhow. It's not a bad device for letting the reader know more about the victim - that and seeing the victim through other people's eyes who the detective talks with. I'd use the letters sparingly and try to mostly uncover the life of the victim through the investigation itself. Then again, I'm not very fond of flashbacks in either…
It doesn't sound like you need any flashbacks. I'm not sure if a character reading a letter that provides information about the victim, qualifies as a flashback anyhow. It's not a bad device for letting the reader know more about the victim - that and seeing the victim through other people's eyes who the detective talks with. I'd use the letters sparingly and try to mostly uncover the life of the victim through the investigation itself. Then again, I'm not very fond of flashbacks in either books or movies. With very rare exceptions they seem to slow things down and interrupt the pace.