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(Introduction - 1/16/01) Topic for #workshop: Pat Rushford on "Writing Mysteries", 10pm ET WTYates: Welcome to the Christian Writer's Workshop... WTYates: Our speaker tonight is Pat Rushford who will talk about Writing Mysteries. WTYates: We will be under protocol... WTYates: Type a ? to ask a question... WTYates: Type a ! to make a comment (does not require a response) WTYates: PLEASE type/ or ga when you are done. WTYates: I will call on you in turn. WTYates: We'll start with a short prayer... WTYates: Father, thank you for this opportunity to share with Pat tonight. Help us to hone our skills so that we may use them to your glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN! WRTRPeg: Amen DandL__H: Amen Janelle: amen Carmen: Amen |
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WTYates: Pat, would you like to make an opening statement before we go to Q & A?/ pat: Okay WTYates: The floor is yours... pat: I love writing mysteries. They are challenging and tough, but the fun part is that I don't always know who the bad guy or gal is until I''m done../ pat: I'll just take questions--it's easier that way./ WRTRPeg: ? WTYates: Peg... WRTRPeg: How do you prepare, Pat? Do you outline, etc.? ga pat: I do a synopsis--brief at first, then a little more detail. Then I just write and it's usually different than what I'd intended. But I like having a guideline and I get paid on the synopsis./ Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: Have you always written mysteries, or have you written in other genres also? ga pat: I've written a lot of non-fiction. Life is a mystery. On all different topics, from teens to elderly. I write two mystery series--one for kids and one for adults./ WRTRPeg: ? WTYates: WRTRPeg... WRTRPeg: It would appear that your stories are character driven, then, yes? ga pat: Primarily. Plot is important, but kids esp want characters they can identify with. I think most adults do as well. I do a lot of workshops on characters building because it is so important./ Gail_S: ? WTYates: Gail_S... Gail_S: How do you start on a good idea for a mystery? How do you work on advancing the plot and not giving it away too soon? pat: Carefully. I usually just start the book on something mysterious--an event or something exciting. The last Helen Bradley started with Helen standing on the beach--It's cold and windy and rainy. The day had slithered from a 10 that morning to a -3 and that was before she found the body. You have to keep planting clues and giving information. That's the fun part, I guess. Keeping them guessing until the very end. Something always gets in the way of the character and the reader finding the truth./ Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: How does writing mysteries for teens compare to writing mysteries for adults? ga pat: It's much the same really--for me at least. It's the characters who make the difference. A kid solving a mystery is going to deal with life differently than an adult. My teen books tend to be popular with adults I think because I stay true to the character. Anyway, I write the same for both. If anything, the teen books have to be more exciting and riveting./ WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: Do you do much research on police procedures and such?/ pat: Yes. I always have police officers read my stuff. I also talk with medical examiners and learned how to shoot a gun. The gun because Helen Bradley is an ex-cop and has one. I do onsite research when I can--including going on a cruise so I could get the real flavor of it. :-) Police officers are wonderful. I have brainstormed with them and gotten some really great ideas. It's important to do Crime scene investigation research as well./ WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: How long does it take you to write book?/ pat: Forever--at least it seems that way. I have a deadline right now of March 15, Yikes. Can I do it? Maybe rough draft. I've done a Jennie book in as little as 2 months./ WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: Did you ever get into a plot tangle or conflict?/ pat: all the time. I try not to write myself into corners. The worst is getting to the end of the story and realizing you have the wrong villain. The amazing part of that though is that when you figure it out, you hardly have to do any changing. It all fits into place./ Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: Do you find building a suspenseful plot to be hard work at times or does it seem to come naturally? ga pat: It comes naturally for me. I have this weird mind that is always coming up with suspenseful scenes. When I'm really on, the scenes run like a movie. I like that. When I'm not, I have to struggle for every word. That's hard./ WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: How do you market your book to the publisher? Proposal? Query?/ pat: I do a proposal. Well, actually a query--but I try to do that in person. My mysteries have been published with Bethany so I'm spoiled. At this point, I write a synopsis. I'll be doing other things soon and will do proposals again./ Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: Do you sometimes find the scenes in your mind running a lot faster than you can write and find it frustrating? If so, how do you tackle this? ga pat: Rarely. But I love when that happens. Wish it would on this book. Having a hard time with it. Once I get going it will be better. I make a lot of mistakes typing too fast. Then have to clean it up. Sometimes I write longhand and do a kind of shorthand./ WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: Who are your favorite authors? esp. mystery writers?/ WTYates: And why?/ pat: Wow--there are so many. I like Diane Mott Davidson, Mary Higgins Clark, Christie, Earl Emerson--I could go on and on. I try to read a lot of not-too-well-known authors too. Some really good stories out there Why... I love mysteries. :-)./ WRTRPeg: ? WTYates: WRTRPeg... WRTRPeg: What does your workspace/area/desk look like? ga WTYates: LOL! pat: Like a very messy office. I have a desktop, but use a laptop for creating writing. I just got an Alpha Smart and love it for creating new stuff. I have a designated office. WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: What kind of writing schedule do you keep and what are your main distractions?/ pat: Schedule? HA I try to write in the morning for at least two hours a day. Try to take weekends off, except when I'm on deadline./ WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: What are the hardest and easiest things about writing a mystery?/ pat: hardest: the middle. Making sure it keeps moving and doesn't lag. Getting enough exciting scenes and making sure every chapter end is a cliffhanger. Easiest: Having written the thing. And going back to edit after the editor's comments have been made./ WRTRPeg: ? WTYates: WRTRPeg... WRTRPeg: Where do you get your plot ideas? ga pat: Everywhere. I catch things in the paper. Read about real life mysteries. Sometimes I'll be walking along and it'll just be there. Sometimes I hear someone make a comment. Occasionally there's be a snippet from a dream. You name it.../ Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: What are some of your upcoming projects, if you are able to tell us? And how long will the Jennie McGrady & Helen Bradley Mysteries go on for? ga pat: Sadly, I'm working on the last Jennie book #15. She's in Ireland with her gram (Helen Bradley.) Helen's last caper was in WHEN SHADOWS FALL (book #4). Now I'm working on another kids series and a stand alone romantic suspense. I really enjoyed writing Morningsong and ink I'll do another of those. Won an award for it, so I think I'll do another of those. Also have another mystery series I'd like to sell. :-) Lots of ideas, but now comes the hard part--getting a contract. Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: Morningsong was a standalone romance for the Portraits line from Bethany, wasn't it? ga pat: Yes, it was. I loved writing it. Used multiple viewpoints in it. Really likes the romantic suspense element./ Janelle: ? WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: Have you read anything by Dee Henderson? ga pat: I don't think so. The name sounds familiar though. I may have and am having a senior moment. :-) / Janelle: ! WTYates: Janelle... Janelle: She writes romantic suspense novels for Multnomah WRTRPeg: I have them often, pat :) Janelle: Danger in the Shadows, The Negotiator etc pat: I'll have to look it up./ Janelle: greaat reads :) ga WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: What advice can you give us mystery writer wannabes?/ pat: Hmmm. work out at least 12 suspenseful scenes and use post-it notes to lay them out--like on a grid. Take the least suspenseful first and work your way up. Laying out scenes that way can be really helpful. And just get into it. / Nancy: ? WTYates: Nancy... Nancy: Do you seek the advice of professionals? Police, forensics, etc. ga pat: Yes. I think I hit that one earlier. All the time. Very important. I try to make the books as authentic as I can. Fire department too for arson, etc. / Nancy: sorry...got here late :( Thanks! WTYates: Time for one or two more questions... WTYates: 2-minute warning... WRTRPeg: ? WTYates: WRTRPeg... WRTRPeg: What do you do for rest & relaxation away from writing? ga pat: knit, walk, I joined the Y I sing in the choir. I spend time with my grandkids. / WTYates: Pat, thanks for a great session! Very helpful! WRTRPeg: Thank you, Pat...wonderful. WTYates: And thanks to all who participated! pat: You're welcome. I enjoyed visiting with you all./ Janelle: Yes, thank you Pat :) np Carmen: Thank you Pat. I didn't ask questions, but I read. WTYates: If anyone would like the CWW newsletter, email me at billyates@billyates.com. Jeanette: Thank you. Very interesting WTYates: Next week.... T. Suzanne Eller - How to Get the Most Out of a Writers Conference! WTYates: Be here! :) Carmen: Timely with the FCWC coming up WRTRPeg: Should be good! WTYates: And the following week-- Carmen Leal on Screenwriting! Janelle: I'll try to be here if I can, but under my usual nick probably. I'm 2 ppl today Carmen: I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to the conference. WTYates: And Feb 14 - David Hudson on webzines! WTYates: Thanks to all! pat: Bye all/ WTYates: Thanks, again, Pat! |
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