Seeking input for informal poll about hobby-cozies - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T09:17:37Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:88789?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A89541&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYou're right. That's the wron…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895592007-11-04T22:04:01.734ZMargaret Gracehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MargaretGrace
You're right. That's the wrong place fo a recipe for beans on toast! BUT I would add that when the hobby is used to give you insight into the character's worldview, how she/he sees the world, it becomes a metaphor that runs throughout and makes the character three-dimensional. Everyone has to have some passion, some lens through which reality is filtered, and a hobby can be that lens if (like anything else) it's done well.
You're right. That's the wrong place fo a recipe for beans on toast! BUT I would add that when the hobby is used to give you insight into the character's worldview, how she/he sees the world, it becomes a metaphor that runs throughout and makes the character three-dimensional. Everyone has to have some passion, some lens through which reality is filtered, and a hobby can be that lens if (like anything else) it's done well. Oh, thanks for that laugh. Yo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895532007-11-04T21:54:26.359ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Oh, thanks for that laugh. You write great funny stuff. I love that image of the killer sharpening his knives in the basement while the heroine is planning baked beans on toast -- an effort which will surely take her down to the basement where she stocks her canned goods.
Oh, thanks for that laugh. You write great funny stuff. I love that image of the killer sharpening his knives in the basement while the heroine is planning baked beans on toast -- an effort which will surely take her down to the basement where she stocks her canned goods. One of my writer-models is a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895412007-11-04T20:53:31.855ZTom Barclayhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MacCZpilot
One of my writer-models is a screenwriter named Rockne S. O'Bannon. At the start of any project, he writes a mission statement. He lines out the producer's objectives. He sets his parameters; sheer escapism, entertainment and social commentary, real life choices, and so forth. He identifies his audience.<br />
<br />
If our goal in writing is to entertain and interest a specific niche, we'll write a different book than we would if we're writing about what we believe about Real Life. If we are skillful and…
One of my writer-models is a screenwriter named Rockne S. O'Bannon. At the start of any project, he writes a mission statement. He lines out the producer's objectives. He sets his parameters; sheer escapism, entertainment and social commentary, real life choices, and so forth. He identifies his audience.<br />
<br />
If our goal in writing is to entertain and interest a specific niche, we'll write a different book than we would if we're writing about what we believe about Real Life. If we are skillful and honest, we may choose to do either. It's a matter of purpose to the work, of who we want to buy our work.<br />
<br />
When it comes to hobby cozies, we serve our audience best if we can write with knowledge and affection for the hobby (and don't write about what we really dislike - it will show).<br />
<br />
And in doing that job, we serve our own interests best if we keep from getting the story so involuted that no 'outsider' can enjoy it. Barney Thompson, you say? I w…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895342007-11-04T20:40:57.079ZTom Barclayhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MacCZpilot
Barney Thompson, you say? I was thinking of SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. True crime, Sondheim, big time, etc.
Barney Thompson, you say? I was thinking of SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. True crime, Sondheim, big time, etc. On the serial killing barber,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895282007-11-04T20:27:07.449ZDonna Moorehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DonnaMoore
On the serial killing barber, there is one - Douglas Lindsay's Barney Thompson - definitely not a cosy! I really don't care for hobby cosies at all. It may be because I don't have a hobby :o) I also don't like recipes. There you are, just getting to the bit where the killer has lured the heroine down into the basement with a well timed phone call, you can hear the killer down there sharpening his knives and suddenly you get a recipe for baked beans on toast.<br />
<br />
I love shoes, but wouldn't want to…
On the serial killing barber, there is one - Douglas Lindsay's Barney Thompson - definitely not a cosy! I really don't care for hobby cosies at all. It may be because I don't have a hobby :o) I also don't like recipes. There you are, just getting to the bit where the killer has lured the heroine down into the basement with a well timed phone call, you can hear the killer down there sharpening his knives and suddenly you get a recipe for baked beans on toast.<br />
<br />
I love shoes, but wouldn't want to read a book where the focus is on them rather than the crime. Even cosies about shoes make me come out in hives. I read crime fiction because I enjoy crime fiction - if I wanted to read a book about knitting or stamp collecting or aardvaark rearing I would read one. It's one thing having your character have an interest in something but when it takes over it's just annoying. To me, I hasten to add. I think it's a matter of tast…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895262007-11-04T20:20:51.151ZKathryn Lilleyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathrynL
I think it's a matter of taste, and also of making sure the information really suits the story and doesn't overload it. In DYING TO BE THIN, I put the diet and exercise tips in a character's voice so that it enhanced the interplay and sense of characterization of the two friends, rather than sounding like I was tacking on a bunch of Weight Watchers tips.
I think it's a matter of taste, and also of making sure the information really suits the story and doesn't overload it. In DYING TO BE THIN, I put the diet and exercise tips in a character's voice so that it enhanced the interplay and sense of characterization of the two friends, rather than sounding like I was tacking on a bunch of Weight Watchers tips. In some ways the trend of inc…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895242007-11-04T20:01:06.464ZMargaret Gracehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MargaretGrace
In some ways the trend of including recipes, patterns, and the like, is a throw back to when even works of fiction had illustrations, maps, and so on. It's all a matter of taste, however.<br />
Margaret
In some ways the trend of including recipes, patterns, and the like, is a throw back to when even works of fiction had illustrations, maps, and so on. It's all a matter of taste, however.<br />
Margaret I find it a bit off-putting w…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:895212007-11-04T19:41:01.460ZLaura Roothttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/mallard
I find it a bit off-putting when any fiction book includes recipes, knitting patterns etc.
I find it a bit off-putting when any fiction book includes recipes, knitting patterns etc. Good point, Margaret! The alc…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:894872007-11-04T17:29:34.462ZKathryn Lilleyhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathrynL
Good point, Margaret! The alcoholic, fight-prone detective character has been beaten to death, pun intended! Best, Kathryn
Good point, Margaret! The alcoholic, fight-prone detective character has been beaten to death, pun intended! Best, Kathryn It would be poor writing inde…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-11-04:537324:Comment:894842007-11-04T17:06:33.465ZMargaret Gracehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MargaretGrace
It would be poor writing indeed to replace good character writing with a hobby. But there's no more danger of that in crafts mysteries than in any other crime fiction ... we've seen character "defined" by a propensity to go to bars, get into fights, or be obsessed with physical fitness. All of these can be done well or not.
It would be poor writing indeed to replace good character writing with a hobby. But there's no more danger of that in crafts mysteries than in any other crime fiction ... we've seen character "defined" by a propensity to go to bars, get into fights, or be obsessed with physical fitness. All of these can be done well or not.