Ed Lynskey's Blog: Cracked Rearview Mirror - Posts Tagged "new-book"

My guest blog for my new noir, LAKE CHARLES, is posted on Ed Gorman's blog: http://newimprovedgorman.blogspot.com/

For the past week, I've been fitting in a blocks of time to do some spadework for a new book. Never mind the title (superstitious authors never divulge that!). Suffice to say it's a crime fiction novel. My point is I like to have something in the works. Starting from scratch can be as much fun as it is frustrating.

Some types of novels I'll never do or even make a stab at doing. Zombie titles, for instance. Nothing is wrong with them. I've read a few. Just saying it ain't my cuppa. Erotica, ditto. Again, it's fine if it rocks your clock. Or whatever. But I can't envision how I'd build a plot out of bedroom scenes. Hey, different strokes. Or whatever.

I find I'm drawn more to character-driven plots. People interest me more than blowing up stuff or driving up the body count. I'm also trying to "transcend the genre," but that's not easy when I've no inkling what that even means. So, how does one do the spadework for a new book?

For me, it involves a lot of staring out the window at nothing in particular. I list the areas I want to improve in this time out. I list the things (settings, topics, plot twists) I'll avoid using again. I create lists of character names. I list possible occupations. I list settings for scenes.

But in the end, I also reserve my right to scrap everything my spadework has dug up and strike off in an entirely new direction.

Happy reading to you and yours!

By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"A dark and twisted noir tale that starts with a bang and goes in many different ways."
--Blogger/Dallas Morning News

I've previously blogged on my start to a new novel. For me, it's a grind until I find the narrative getting traction. Well, it's Friday, and I've been at it for almost a week. Sad to report, the traction just isn't there. Yet.

There are tons of websites, coaches, help manuals, and I don't know what-all out there. None of it actually does diddly squat for me. Writing is something I do alone, so I have to use whatever I find that works best for me.

I can't even talk about what my work-in-progress is. Call it superstition, but it's bad karma to do so. Batten down the hatches, and ride out Irene if you're in her pathway. If not, then get out and paint the town red! Later.

By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Nice addition to anyone’s summer beach reading schedule."
Florida Times-Union