Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm 100% new to this and something i'v always wanted to do. I'm going blind into this and am always open to advice to help me along. I'm leaning towards caper/heist/mystery novels. I'v purchased this laptop with Office and just got a bunch of learning books to get me started. Mastering Suspense, Structure and Plot - Jane Cleland How to Write a Damn Good Mystery - James Frey Creating Character Arcs - K.M. Weiland Story - Robert McKee Dialogue - Robert McKee Writing and Selling your Mystery Novel - Hallie Ephron Writing Deep Scenes - Martha ALderson, Jordan Rosenfeld Plot Perfect - Paula Munier How to Outline a Mystery Cozy - Sara Rosett Writing the Cozy Mystery - Nancy J. Cohen How to Write Dazzling Dialogue - James Scott Bell If anyone has any advice on books or software to start learning i'd very much appreciate it! I have no clue whatsoever on how to start! Thanks in advance, Pugs
Welcome to the Forum. No, some of us are pantsers, the undisciplined, off the cuff writers. Some of us color outside the lines too, its madness I tell you, madness! Though I did see a thread from a chap who is working on similar genre in this thread: https://www.writingforums.org/threads/specific-questions-about-plot-structure-and-scenes-for-modern-mysteries.156724/#post-1641723 That you may find helpful, and you two may be a help to each other. Good luck and have fun.
Thanks for the link, i'll definitely head over there right now and check it out. I need a break from studying these books anyways, hahaha I've been at it most of the day lol Stay Cool, Pugs
Welcome aboard, and wow, yeah, that's a big reading list. As @Cave Troll mentioned, there are two primary types of writers (around here at least), planners and pantsers. You sound like the first one, somebody who likes to do their research, get things properly thought out and outlined, and get to the business of writing. The other type is pantser (flying by the seats of our pants), among whom I number. I start with something that pops into my head, like having to draw a protective pentagram with pink birthday cake mix, and start writing, then try to see where the story is going. Neither one is right or wrong, and it helps to do a little of both. Don't be a slave to your outline if your story wants to wander, but don't just keep pounding the keys endlessly with no idea of where you're going. Anyway, again, welcome, have a look around and see how people usually interact here, don't be afraid to ask questions, and good luck!
Welcome and good luck! I don't have any books on writing (though I want to get Stephen King's). I just kind of write what comes out and hope for the best, lol.
Hey there, nice to meet you! I'm also interested on the mystery themes - detective-like matters, and surely read something about if you put it on writing. Hope to see something soon! It's the first time that I see the term Pantser, believe it or not :O And definitively I profile pantser... sometimes the tales I end writing come with a completely different ending at which I had planned. Is that "normal"?
I would say that it is fairly normal. But that depends on whether you like the new ending better than the one planned. Usually the ending is largely unknown, except for the basic outcome that is being led up to.
