tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post5993910933411425589..comments2024-03-28T08:51:47.164-04:00Comments on Patricia Abbott (pattinase): Writing for the Readerpattinase (abbott)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-58306630451668616132010-10-12T12:46:59.008-04:002010-10-12T12:46:59.008-04:00That is quite a diverse list, Yvette. I am not fam...That is quite a diverse list, Yvette. I am not familiar with one or two of them.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-75363490530943271002010-10-12T12:27:36.919-04:002010-10-12T12:27:36.919-04:00I'm not a writer, just a reader. But I like to...I'm not a writer, just a reader. But I like to feel that the people I read are writing or have written for me. Not a 'specific' me, but a kind of generalized me. I value imagination, brilliance (where I can find it), a sense of fun, the English language, and most importantly, some sort of inner strength, gentleness and kindness.<br /><br />Some mystery/thriller writers with these qualities?<br />Robert Crais<br />Lee Child<br />Agatha Christie<br />Spencer Quinn<br />Jasper Fforde<br />Martha Grimes<br />Dick Francis<br />Stuart Kaminsky<br />Elizabeth Peters<br />Connie Willis<br />Laurie R. King<br />Earl Emerson<br /><br />...etc, etc, etc.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-2106022462610851422010-10-11T18:50:54.626-04:002010-10-11T18:50:54.626-04:00I try to write for people who like the same kinds ...I try to write for people who like the same kinds of books I like. That's a lot like writing for myself--and a good bit of what I do in the course of a story is for my amusement--but at the same time I think writing solely for oneself, without concern for anyone else, is a bit of a masturbatory exercise, and no one wants to see that. (Well, some, but that's their personal issue.)Dana Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350344882342624735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-72706441930567325362010-10-11T12:53:27.416-04:002010-10-11T12:53:27.416-04:00Probably what we all do whether we mean to or not....Probably what we all do whether we mean to or not.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-45842061238329840832010-10-11T12:25:50.711-04:002010-10-11T12:25:50.711-04:00I admit I write primarily for myself. I don't...I admit I write primarily for myself. I don't completely disregard what my readers would (or would not) want to see, but if I'm going to enjoy my writing, I have to write the stories, characters, etc, that I enjoy. I may tweak things, smaller events or details to appeal to those who are not as quirky as me, but at the core, it's the story that I want to read.<br /><br />If other readers enjoy the things that I write, then we're both in good shape. And for this, I may never get a novel publisher or may only have a small audience of like minded readers.Clair D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18081744733758211094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-81394485747920032592010-10-11T11:31:09.616-04:002010-10-11T11:31:09.616-04:00Mm. *thinking*
My audience is not everybody, but...Mm. *thinking* <br /><br />My audience is not everybody, but people who are willing to put up with my love of adjectives and some description. I write for people who care about characters and setting, but also like a proper plot or mystery. <br /><br />I do think about my readers, but I hope I´ll never, ever write a book I wouldn´t want to read myself. I can survive very well as a teacher (probably better than by writing) so if I don´t love writing any more, what´s the point? <br /><br />My role models are mainly British, but I love Sue Grafton - and if I *could* write like a certain Megan Abbott, I would! I can´t so I´ll have to settle for something more ordinary, and I can live with that. As long as *I* do my best.Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-12064004016927146822010-10-11T11:14:54.286-04:002010-10-11T11:14:54.286-04:00I don't think he was suggesting that a writer ...I don't think he was suggesting that a writer become hack to sell books. Rather that you write for your ideal audience. I have moved this discussion in the wrong direction, I think,pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-78852149047438200982010-10-11T10:57:26.473-04:002010-10-11T10:57:26.473-04:00You slant as much as you choose to. At a certain p...You slant as much as you choose to. At a certain point, it becomes hack.<br /><br />You write and see what comes of it. You really can't easily predict what the response will be, certainly not on any individual level.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-24852124589918625612010-10-11T10:22:23.981-04:002010-10-11T10:22:23.981-04:00Despite what Cunningham said, I am not convinced w...Despite what Cunningham said, I am not convinced we can ever write for someone other than that person inside us who reads. What do I read-writing to some other concerns, say commercial, would just be too tedious. For instance, I could never write romance novels, having never read one. Science fiction, I know too little about. <br />Both Margot and the Charles' here write for themselves. Maybe it's not possible to write for someone else with much credibility.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-9395509957535264242010-10-11T10:13:46.056-04:002010-10-11T10:13:46.056-04:00The specific readers who enjoy reading organized c...The specific readers who enjoy reading organized crime novels ... all 11 of them.Charlieoperahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876755029099726686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-2954276543651014342010-10-11T10:09:24.696-04:002010-10-11T10:09:24.696-04:00I'm such a huge reader that my ideal reader IS...I'm such a huge reader that my ideal reader IS me. I primarily write the kind of stuff that I'd like to read.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33110302.post-83334991816137321862010-10-11T09:47:24.882-04:002010-10-11T09:47:24.882-04:00Patti - What a great question! As a reader, I'...Patti - What a great question! As a reader, I've found there are lots of writers who seem to "reach out" for me. I appreciate writers who use everyday language, for instance. I also appreciate writers who have the knack of teaching me things without sounding didactic. It's hard to narrow it down to just a few, so let me just say that writers who do that write for me. <br /><br />As a writer, I start by thinking, "What would I, as a mystery lover, want to read about?" If I'm bored, irritated, etc. by the idea, or by a character, readers will be, too. Beyond that, I try to write for readers who want a puzzle to solve. I do develop characters and so on, but for me, the mystery challenge is important.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com