This is crap, of course. I'm not writing because I'm procrastinating. It's my finest skill and one I have honed for many years.
Now it is true that when you're writing a mystery there is a little thing called plot. All the pieces of the puzzle have to come together at some point. I also believe that you have to give your readers a fighting chance at solving the crime. There is nothing that makes me angrier than reading a mystery and getting all this new information at the end as the guilty party is revealed. I have no problem thinking "Why didn't I pay more attention to..." but to have had information withheld makes me furious.
At the moment I am working on "The Watcher" which is a short story headed (hopefully) for a mystery magazine. I'm wanting to come in at about 2,500-3,000 words. I am finding it a challenge to write a good mystery in so few words.
Ah well. Once more unto the breach.
I have yet to master the art of short story writing. I've written quite a few, but never quite get it right enough for publication.
ReplyDeleteAnd procrastination is my middle name. I'm better at that than anything thing else I do. Today it's Twitter and blog comments. Maybe I'll make a peach crisp later on.
It's nice to know I'm not alone, Patricia! Peach crisp would be lovely! I fulfilled my domestic goddess role yesterday by making blueberry muffins.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!
I saw what I do define on someone’s blog as “digital fiddling.” Following “interesting” links that have nothing to do with what I should be up to. Yeah, I can waste time like I do money. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteShort story writing is a mystery to me. I can’t get past chapter one in less than 2500 words. How in the world does one create and follow a story arc that short?? Well, I guess for one thing, they have more talent than me…note to self: stop at Costco, get extra big bag of talent.
Thanks for dropping by the blog today. Hope to see you there again. Hey, it’s a great way to procrastinate.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog