tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post7813730498586650628..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: What’s a Writer’s Biggest Challenge?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-53877988508097709462012-02-04T11:49:58.786-08:002012-02-04T11:49:58.786-08:00Thanks to all my fellow writers, readers and frien...Thanks to all my fellow writers, readers and friends who commented. Loved reading your posts. Best to all, Jeanjean harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04925805990806522316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-73523172724700820352012-02-04T10:59:38.325-08:002012-02-04T10:59:38.325-08:00Great job, Jean. A so-typical blend of intelligenc...Great job, Jean. A so-typical blend of intelligence, cleverness, and humor. Can't wait to read your new mystery! Buying an Ereader this week...<br />Diane O'KeyDiane O'Keynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-44695059703916292952012-02-04T09:17:26.284-08:002012-02-04T09:17:26.284-08:00Hey Jean,
Rules? We have rules? Shoot, those pesk...Hey Jean,<br /><br />Rules? We have rules? Shoot, those pesky details slap me upside the head all the time, but I seem to make a practice of breaking every one I stumble upon. I love your cookie baking analogy, but I'd prefer salsa my Westerns, adding jalapenos whenever possible. :) As you know, "sweet" I'm not, and dessert is the farthest thing from sating my taste buds. Can't wait to read your book. I wish you a ton of sales and years of writing for everyone's reading pleasure.Joyce Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05947230848151690860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-49636650697850366092012-02-04T05:40:19.424-08:002012-02-04T05:40:19.424-08:00Great post, Jean. I totally agree that rules are t...Great post, Jean. I totally agree that rules are there to be broken. It's the only way we can bring a freshness to our writing. Throw out the bland and predictable, bring in the fresh and exciting.<br /><br />By the way, you're welcome at my house anytime. I'll supply the muffin pans!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05938431508430656253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-43042822612353642222012-02-03T18:38:43.397-08:002012-02-03T18:38:43.397-08:00Yum! Jean, I think I gained five pounds reading yo...Yum! Jean, I think I gained five pounds reading your blog. I like rules -- they sound so nice when they break...Marcelle Dubéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18164965676254630066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-15900993637572149182012-02-03T13:55:31.463-08:002012-02-03T13:55:31.463-08:00Excellent post, Jean! I'm all for a little rul...Excellent post, Jean! I'm all for a little rule breaking. It's what makes life...and stories worth doing. BTW, I absolutely loved your first book in this series and cannot wait for the next!Lynnette Hallbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-48182181248540012612012-02-03T12:57:36.224-08:002012-02-03T12:57:36.224-08:00think you need to know the rules before you can br...think you need to know the rules before you can break them. Too many authors don't take the time to learn what the rules are. And I do think that the rules change. They are squished and punched and pulled into new definitions over time. Romance novels have changed incredibly since the 70s-thank you gawd. But that came about because of risk-taking authors, agents and editors. If any of you were at nationals this summer or have heard Sherrilyn Kenyon tell her story of a particular rejection from an editor who said, “this book is awful. It will never go anyplace and never ever submit another book to this house.” Yup. Wonder what he's doing now?Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-39752282163786868352012-02-03T11:57:28.680-08:002012-02-03T11:57:28.680-08:00You're so right, Jean. Sometimes,we need that ...You're so right, Jean. Sometimes,we need that simple sugar cookie. It's comforting. But I love breaking the rules, trying something that hasn't been done before. I want my readers to say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming." That's the greatest compliment because it means I'm not a predictable writer.NancyCWeeksAuthorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231675799502170060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-52232270035192906652012-02-03T11:51:04.853-08:002012-02-03T11:51:04.853-08:00I agree with the happy ending, but do you ever, ev...I agree with the happy ending, but do you ever, ever, just wish one time that you could pull the rug out from under the hero and say, "Nope, you're not quite good enough for me."?Joyce Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265734575606061173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-48462139263059096412012-02-03T11:16:44.738-08:002012-02-03T11:16:44.738-08:00Bravo, Jean. I'm all about breaking the rules....Bravo, Jean. I'm all about breaking the rules. But one rule for me will never be broken...the happy ending. :)Maureen A. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16432964748852427405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-81202037820096053542012-02-03T09:48:32.794-08:002012-02-03T09:48:32.794-08:00Fantastic post, Jean. As one who breaks a lot of r...Fantastic post, Jean. As one who breaks a lot of rules, I especially appreciated your insight on And Then There Were None. Because I write series, there has to be some backstory in the beginning of my books or the reader would flounder. <br /><br />But I really love to play with all sorts of twists and turns--a little cinnamon in the sugar cookie. <br /><br />As someone who's had a sneak peak at what's coming in your next book, I can only say readers will be glued to their ereader or print copy. <br /><br />L. j.L. j. Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13665804246726435387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-28709327796368251202012-02-03T09:37:59.352-08:002012-02-03T09:37:59.352-08:00Loved the blog. And I totally agree. When you foll...Loved the blog. And I totally agree. When you follow too many rules the whole outcome is formulaic and not much fun for the writer or the reader.<br /><br />I loved your last book and looking forward to the next!!!<br />Teresa R.Teresa Reasor https://www.blogger.com/profile/18204579039577235727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-4214914507159126062012-02-03T09:31:13.920-08:002012-02-03T09:31:13.920-08:00Great blog post - I agree that we should mix it up...Great blog post - I agree that we should mix it up as writers. Writing needs to be fun for both the writer and the reader.<br /><br />And now I'm craving sugar cookies. :)Rebecca Zanettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06252156888953212601noreply@blogger.com