tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post3587276241556060235..comments2023-10-09T10:05:44.803-06:00Comments on Patricia Stoltey: How many words does it take to make a great mystery? ... by Mark S. BaconPatricia Stolteyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-18700491724765108162014-10-18T11:11:29.896-06:002014-10-18T11:11:29.896-06:00Hi Mark - fascinating read ... and good to know wh...Hi Mark - fascinating read ... and good to know what works and what doesn't ... <br /><br />Good to luck to whoever wins Death in Nostalgia City ... Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-51631876210614223252014-10-11T10:21:19.419-06:002014-10-11T10:21:19.419-06:00Hey, I admire for you getting you plot across in a...Hey, I admire for you getting you plot across in a few words.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115085533635353291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-65002921284740244562014-10-10T16:24:43.521-06:002014-10-10T16:24:43.521-06:00KK, If you don' win this giveaway, you can fin...KK, If you don' win this giveaway, you can find Death in Nostalgia City on Amazon and the other usual places. $3.99/ebook<br />Flash fiction is challenging. Maybe I said that above, but it also provides more instant rewards. Even on a day when I struggle, I can get at least one good story done. Maybe that's another reason why I made my novel chapters short: quicker gratification.Mark S. Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860828267667542523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-54640960055632714862014-10-10T11:34:33.595-06:002014-10-10T11:34:33.595-06:00Quite an interesting post, Mark. I am grateful for...Quite an interesting post, Mark. I am grateful for your example of flash fiction. I've read about the concept but nothing of the real thing, heretofore! Congratulations on publishing your first full-length mystery, which I'd love to read.kkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02296326994943617709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-64819423023840353452014-10-10T10:40:44.072-06:002014-10-10T10:40:44.072-06:00Short, but filled with surprises, not windy phrase...Short, but filled with surprises, not windy phrases. Anyone ever read Mary Higgins Clark? I think her chapters are shorter than mine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-31215704968872495612014-10-09T18:51:44.770-06:002014-10-09T18:51:44.770-06:0074 chapters? That's keeping it tight. Reminds ...74 chapters? That's keeping it tight. Reminds me of when I wrote YA. Chapters had to be short & punchy to get kids to read.Eileen Goudgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01156415980783091338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-61176334752444803742014-10-09T11:20:57.691-06:002014-10-09T11:20:57.691-06:00Easy to answer. Although one of the reasons I'...Easy to answer. Although one of the reasons I've always been a writer is that it's the hardest work I know how to do reasonably well, nonfiction writing is easier than fiction. Perhaps after I've written a bunch more mysteries I may change my mind. But I doubt it. As to easier to sell: Given that selling a book to a publisher is extremely difficult and competitive, selling fiction is much more so. Mark S. Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860828267667542523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-70948122218906541212014-10-09T11:11:36.369-06:002014-10-09T11:11:36.369-06:00Thanks Mark. One more question which is really a t...Thanks Mark. One more question which is really a two parter.<br />I looked you up online and see that you've also published (traditionally) a handful of non-fiction books as well as another that you self-published. So, which is harder to write - fiction vs. non-fiction, and then, which is harder to get published?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05286868543000225773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-89294072427935442002014-10-09T10:42:03.815-06:002014-10-09T10:42:03.815-06:00Thanks for the question, Mark.
Part of the researc...Thanks for the question, Mark.<br />Part of the research was just growing up in the 70s, but I double checked all product names, song titles, news events and other elements from the past used in the book. Surprisingly--or not so--not everything from back then was exactly as I remembered it. For other aspects of the book I consulted experts in technical fields, such as law enforcement, insurance, even airlines and air traffic control.Mark S. Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860828267667542523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-28376430347973823392014-10-09T10:19:21.770-06:002014-10-09T10:19:21.770-06:00Mark - I can imagine how tough it might be to writ...Mark - I can imagine how tough it might be to write an entire story in 100 words but writing 90,000 words and keeping track of your own story and characters is an amazing challenge!<br />One question: You may have grown up during the 70s but what was your research process like for your mystery novel?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05286868543000225773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-35088950254861469842014-10-09T10:18:23.878-06:002014-10-09T10:18:23.878-06:00You're welcome, Dean. And I'd vote for th...You're welcome, Dean. And I'd vote for the shorter chapters. Just watch for continuity, always something I have to focus on.Mark S. Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860828267667542523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-24399624573205837512014-10-09T09:32:34.279-06:002014-10-09T09:32:34.279-06:00I am dealing with the "short" chapter sc...I am dealing with the "short" chapter scenario currently. The novel is written in those quick action type sequences. Keeping track is a challenge. Finalizing/cutting will more so to make sure the story moves in an understandable (and readable) fashion. Still not sure if I'll patch together to make longer chapters or stay quick and dirty.<br /><br />Flash fiction is a great training tool and when well done, is as satisfying as any novel around. <br /><br />Thanks Mark for a great look into another writing genre/tool.Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02585231102949370872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-6479506588843839762014-10-09T09:14:06.491-06:002014-10-09T09:14:06.491-06:00Thanks for being here today, Mark. I'm another...Thanks for being here today, Mark. I'm another one who tries to write a tight fast-paced story to keep a reader turning the pages. I'm often chastised by some members of my critique group for not "fleshing out" my characters. It's not always easy to strike the right balance.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-25451339138356428492014-10-09T07:57:04.615-06:002014-10-09T07:57:04.615-06:00Madeline, Reminds me of the old comment, "I&#...Madeline, Reminds me of the old comment, "I'm sorry I wrote such a long letter. I didn't have time to write a short one."<br />Yes, a challenge.Mark S. Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860828267667542523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-3123078115730327802014-10-09T07:54:48.734-06:002014-10-09T07:54:48.734-06:00Yes, the chapters are short. Things are happeni...Yes, the chapters are short. Things are happening and problems arising constantly. The short chapters invite you to turn the page, but also challenge you to keep track of clues and suspects along the way.Mark S. Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860828267667542523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-21153476602077630712014-10-09T06:19:28.734-06:002014-10-09T06:19:28.734-06:00I think a lot of people see writing "short&qu...I think a lot of people see writing "short" as easy but it's definitely harder than it looks. But I'm with you, Mark - I love the challenge, too. :)<br /><br />Congratulations on the new book!<br /><br />Madeline @ <a href="http://MadelineMora-Summonte.com/" rel="nofollow">The Shellshank Redemption</a>Madeline Mora-Summontehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529397293165046430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757567191914795875.post-5823620466318755372014-10-09T06:16:40.709-06:002014-10-09T06:16:40.709-06:00Seventy-four chapters? That's dividing it up s...Seventy-four chapters? That's dividing it up small all right.<br />None of my novels are long, but when I had to write a 1500 word story for an anthology, it really taught me to use words sparingly. You're right - you don't have room for all those extra, colorful words.<br />Congratulations on the novel, Mark.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com