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Roger Angle

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Born

The United States

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RogerAngle

Member Since

August 2007

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https://www.goodreads.com/rogerangle

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Roger Angle was born and raised in Wichita, KS, amid the vast central plains. He grew up around cops, lawyers, and judges, and has always been fascinated by criminals, con-men, and desperadoes, who are all sort of second-cousins to each other. Angle was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize his first year as a reporter and won the Random House short fiction contest in its first year, 1999. He is interested in the drama of crime, the decisive moments and the ripple effects that forever change the lives of criminals and victims and those who devote their lives to enforcing the law. He lives in Southern California.

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Roger Angle I don't believe in writer's block. You just sit down and do it. I learned to write as a reporter on daily newspapers. One time I had 20 minutes to do …moreI don't believe in writer's block. You just sit down and do it. I learned to write as a reporter on daily newspapers. One time I had 20 minutes to do a five-graf story on an EIR (environmental impact report). I read the executive summary and the conclusion and wrote my story, which appeared on Page One the next day. I re-read it and it was accurate. It held up.

I believe this:
“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” — Chuck Close

Ann Rule, one of my favorite non-fiction writers, said she couldn't afford writer's block. She had five kids to feed. Or something like that.

I think most writer's block comes from asking yourself the wrong questions: Is it good enough? Am I good enough? Will it make me rich? Or famous?

Forget all that and focus on the story. Who is the main character? What does he or she want? Is she willing to die for it? Or kill for it? What stands in her way? What is happening right now? Why do I care about this character and this story? Answer those questions and start writing. Keep writing until you have finished. Let the story tell itself. (less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Roger Angle I like to write fiction because it lets me use everything I've got. It's like having a stable full of race horses, and in most jobs I've had, includin…moreI like to write fiction because it lets me use everything I've got. It's like having a stable full of race horses, and in most jobs I've had, including that of investigative reporter, I felt like only two or three out of my ten or twelve horses were allowed to run. The rest were chomping at the bit.

I feel most intensely alive when I'm writing. I get lost in it and when the phone rings it's like being awakened from a trance. I jump and think, What the hell was that?

I love peak experiences. Mountain biking down a steep rocky path with cacti on one side and a gully on the other. Demands focus. Doing the Eskimo roll in a kayak in the ocean. Taking boxing lessons from a professional prize fighter.

Writing is like that, for me. It lights my fire. It sets all my horses free to run. (less)

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Roger Angle’s books

Average rating: 3.75 · 32 ratings · 12 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Murder at the Beach by Dana Cameron (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Patricia Abbott, Sharon Fiffer (Goodreads Author) 3.64 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Disappearance of Maggie Collins 4.11 avg rating — 9 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Casualty of War liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1999	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alien Love 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Roger Angle's Blog

ONE WAY TO BEGIN A NOVEL

I taught writing for years, and students often ask, How do I begin?

When telling a story, you have to hook the reader and hold their attention all the way through. One way to do that is through a character we admire.

The other day, I read a beginning that I loved, in Ridley Pearson's novel "In Harm's Way."

A woman is driving along a country highway in the rain. She crosses a bridge. The river belo Read more of this blog post »

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Published on February 24, 2019 19:12 • Tags: a-good-beginning, how-to-begin-a-novel, how-to-write-fiction

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Roger is Currently Reading

Roger Angle is currently reading

Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson

by S.C. Gwynne

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Roger Angle said: " I love this book so far. Gwynne is a terrific writer and storyteller. Great descriptions, details, insights into people.
Before the shooting started, people are partying in the streets, having no idea how horrible the war is going to be.
As Gen. Robe ...more "

Apr 24, 2021 04:29PM · see review

Roger Angle is currently reading

Long Bright River

by Liz Moore (Goodreads Author)

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Roger Angle said: " I loved the first chapter, but the book lost me in the second.
The voice and the style changed. I didn't understand why we were there, what the purpose was and where the through-line went. It was like going to a play and having the actors walk off th ...more "

Mar 08, 2021 10:54AM · see review

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Roger Angle liked an answer from Caitlin Rother: Hi Caitlin, I am the mother of one of the victims (Bryan Sorendino) children. She was turning 5 when this happened and she's now 13 ;-) and doing very well. May I ask how you research for your book? I'm sorry for your loss. I used court documents in my research and also interviewed key players in the case. But I didn't write an entire book on the case. It's featured in a collection of 10 magazine-length true crime stories and this was one of the See Caitlin’s answer. Caitlin Rother
Jan 13, 2025 10:59PM
Roger Angle is now following Caitlin Rother Author of Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado M...
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Roger Angle wants to read Lost Girls by Caitlin Rother (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 13, 2025 10:58PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Lost Girls by Caitlin Rother. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lost Girls by Caitlin Rother <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Roger Angle wants to read Down to the Bone: A Missing Family's Murder and the Elusive Quest for Justice by Caitlin Rother (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 13, 2025 10:58PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Roger Angle (?)

“People say what they believe, or what they want to believe, or what they want you to believe, or whatever will get them what they want.” – Molly Howes”
― Roger Angle

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Roger’s Quotes

“The public will buy a certain amount of poetry if you give them their striptease.” -- Ezra Pound”
― Ezra Pound

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“It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous.”
― Robert Benchley

tags: fame, writing

101 likes

“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.”
― — Chuck Close

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“Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings.”
― Robert Benchley

tags: bleeding, funny, humor, opera, stabbed

1992 likes

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.”
― William Faulkner

Roger Angle’s Followers (17)

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Roger Angle

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12 posts
Roger Angle's Blog

ONE WAY TO BEGIN A NOVEL

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Roger Angle’s Followers (17)

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